ANIKA WELLS, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS: Well, bright new morning in Australia as we have delivered our world-leading laws, and I think it's pretty clear overnight that the world is watching. We have had huge global interest in how we are delivering a law that is not just I think a moral imperative, one of the defining issues of our time, but a law that is novel, complex, innovative. So, there's been a huge amount of global interest and we welcome it. And we welcome all of the allies who are joining Australia to take action in this space, to draw a line, to say enough's enough. So, what it looks like from here? We have met this morning with some great students here at St John Paul II College, I think Lucy, Caleb, Shantel, and Alex, and their teacher Jenna. Jenna is focused on learning and education and reading. There's a focus here on literacy and making sure that the focus isn't on how you utilise the device, but how you can read and write.
And that's why we're really proud that part of the work we're doing in rolling out these laws is in conjunction with the Library Information Association, a programme rolling out across the summer, for 115 public libraries so that kids off their devices can go somewhere in the real world, connect, learn, develop new skills, forge new real-world connections.
So, while that happens today, the eSafety Commissioner will write to all 10 platforms who are considered age-restricted social media platforms, and she will ask them, as you've heard me say, 'what were your numbers that are under 16 accounts on the 9th of December? What are your numbers today on the 11th of December?' She'll then ask every month for an update on those numbers and she will be giving you an update on that before Christmas, before more nuanced information across the New Year.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much and can I thank the Principal, teacher and students here at St John Paul II College. This is one of the schools where discussions will be taking place today between teachers and students about the impact of this social media ban. Just as this morning over brekkie, and yesterday morning in particular, parents would've been having discussions with their sons and daughters about the impact of this ban. One of the things that the Principal just said to me as well, which is a truism, is that for those who are 13, 14, or 15, this will have an impact. And we heard that from some of the students today, some of their accounts already being removed, some of them to be removed, the discussions that's taking place. But for the generations to come in this world-leading reform, they won't have that discussion because they won't have anything that they've been using taken from them, and so their of growing into adulthood will be very different.
For this school from next year, Year 7, devices will be banned, full stop. That's the sort of thing that is happening right around the country. Because what we know is that you get better educational outcomes, you get better behaviour, you get better social interaction when students aren't subject to looking at their devices constantly, when they're actually talking as humans with human interaction with each other, when they're engaging more in sport and other activities. We know that social media is causing social harm, and one of the issues that I as Prime Minister get all the time is asked about questions of national security. There is nothing more important than keeping our young Australians safe now and into the future. And what this will do is make sure that parents are empowered, that teachers can have those discussions, that we actually have that personal interaction as we go forward to keep our children safe and to give parents greater peace of mind as well.
Importantly, as we saw yesterday, this is not a reform that has come from the top down. This is not Government making a decision and then imposing our will. This is something that has come in particular from parents. Yesterday we heard from Wayne Holsworth at Kirribilli House who lost his son Mac. This is parents who've lost a son or daughter who have taken that tragic circumstance and channelled it into being determined to make sure that other parents don't have to go through that personal hardship and tragedy, which is beyond imagination for every parent, to think about those circumstances.
So, this is world-leading. Yesterday I did interviews with Japanese TV, with CNN, with BBC, and with other international platforms. They are all looking at this. World leaders have been in contact as well. They're all engaged as well. We know that Malaysia will introduce reforms on 1 January. Indonesia is introducing reforms. The European Union is engaged in this, as well as actions in some of the US states in North America. So, this is a big deal.
This is Australia leading the world as we have in so many other areas, and that's why I see it as a source of national pride. This is a national journey that we're embarking upon here, in the interests of this, but importantly as well in the interests of future generations.
I do want to give a shout out, finally, to a couple of the campaigns. The Let Kids Be Kids Campaign and the 36 Months campaign. They're run by media organisations who partnered with their listeners, viewers, their people in life, and given them a voice, and that's been an important part of making sure this reform would happen. Happy to take some questions.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, do you have any concerns about the United States announcing that it will screen the social media history of Australian visitors?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the United States, like Australia, is a sovereign nation. They have a right to set the rules which are there, and we give advice on Smartraveller to Australians travelling to destinations overseas about what are the expectations of particular countries, for the United States or other nations as well. So, we comply with laws. This is a decision that the United States is making. We recognise that and just say to Australians, whether it is travel there or the other work that we've done, aiming at young people a bit older than the cohort we're talking about today, about some of the risks in drinks and various other activities as well. We'll continue to update those websites.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the Energy Market Commission has done a pricing review. They've recommended getting rid of something called loyalty taxes, essentially where customers who stay with a particular energy provider for longer end up paying more for the same plan as new customers, because they get a new sign-on bonus. Is getting rid of a loyalty tax so that more people pay less something that your Government would consider?
PRIME MINISTER: We'll consider anything that will assist consumers in this area. I haven't seen the report, so I'm not going to comment specifically on it, but obviously we need to make sure that consumers can get the best price for any product including energy. And one of the reasons why we've done that middle-of-the-day free four hours [SolarSaver] is looking at making sure that people can benefit. And in addition to that, of course, a very successful program it must be said, is the program of batteries rollout. More than 150,000 Australians have benefited, taking the solar panels and their roofs, conserving that energy and therefore really driving down bills. That's been a much more successful program than we anticipated.
JOURNALIST: Thanks, Prime Minister. Why won't you tighten the rules on MPs' travel to ensure they better the community expectations?
PRIME MINISTER: We have, of course, IPEA, an Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority. That was established in the wake of Sussan Ley's multiple visits to the Gold Coast and the purchase of property on the Gold Coast. They were put in place, we certainly would take advice which is there, but I think it's important just, like the Tribunal setting our wages, that I don't influence that from the top. And it's important –
JOURNALIST: But the guidelines are in legislation, Prime Minister. You voted for them.
PRIME MINISTER: We voted for them, that was introduced under the former Coalition Government, they were adopted unanimously.
JOURNALIST: And it codifies the rules?
PRIME MINISTER: They were adopted unanimously in the Parliament. We will always of course, examine, we're aware that issues are there and that taxpayers have a right to expect value for money. But the rules are there and so Minister Wells has referred herself to IPEA to examine the specifics of her travel. We'll await any recommendations.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, Australia's recorded the highest number of deaths in custody of First Nations people since 1979. Will your Government commit to additional mental health funding and will you speak to states and territories about expediting the removal of hanging points to reduce self-harm?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, on the latter point, we've always engaged with states and territories about the responsibilities that they have to fulfil the recommendations that were there from the Royal Commission. That is a decision, of course, of states and territories. We can't impose, under our federal system, our will always on states and territories. You might've noticed there are differences from time to time. But I think that is a recommendation that certainly should be implemented in terms of states and territories, and I call upon them to do so. When it comes to mental health, we have a range of mental health programs rolling out. We have record funding from mental health, including whether it be youth mental health programs or whether it be the Medicare Mental Health Centres as well, where people can get the healthcare that they need with just their Medicare card as well.
JOURNALIST: Minister Wells, why did you decide to fit out your office when you had the Commonwealth Office nearby and do you believe that met community expectations?
MINISTER WELLS: We moved my office because the one that I inherited when I took the role wasn't wheelchair accessible to the standard the community expected.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, just on, you mentioned value for taxpayers' money. Is it reasonable in your opinion that Ministers or senior politicians have unlimited travel expenses, travel entitlements for their spouses? Is it reasonable that ministers have unlimited travel expenses for spouses?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, these are rules that have been set for some period of time, the rules that are in place in terms of family reunion, to enable people to actually engage with their partners. So, they've been in place for some time and we haven't changed the rules. We haven't added to any entitlements. The rules have been there since they were put in place by the former government.
JOURNALIST: On that point about the unlimited travel for spouses, that is set out in a list of regulations that is issued by the Finance Minister. That is something that could be changed without legislation. It could be changed by a regulation by the Finance Minister. That could be done today, done tomorrow. Do you believe that is appropriate? Do you believe that meets community expectations, for politicians' spouses to have – it does say, 'relevantly unlimited in respect of total expenses claimable each year.' Do you believe that meets community standards?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, you're saying relevantly. Are you reading me out the –
JOURNALIST: Yeah, I'm reading you out, it says –
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I haven't changed the rule.
JOURNALIST: But you could.
PRIME MINISTER: I haven't changed the rule –
JOURNALIST: But you could.
PRIME MINISTER: I'm not the Finance Minister. I haven't changed the rule.
JOURNALIST: On this issue of the travel requirements and arrangements, I've heard you say again today, this was put in place by the previous government. Do you acknowledge that the fact is these sorts of arrangements that have gone back to Federation, when spouses were given a free rail pass? These rules were created by politicians for politicians and if there is a community disquiet about them, it is politicians that have to do something about it. I mean, you're running the country. Do you think there should be a review to see if these arrangements are in line with community expectations?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, community expectations are important, but one of the things that has of course occurred is that the Parliament in 2025 looks different from the Parliament in which I was elected. I've said before. My predecessor as the Member for Grayndler, Jeannette McHugh, was the first woman elected to the House of Representatives. She was elected in 1983 for the first time. For 83 years, our Parliament elected what were largely older, male, all male, every seat, Labor, Liberal, Country Party, UAP, Protectionist. Every single electorate in New South Wales elected a bloke. The distinction, when my son was a bub, as some of you would know him for all of that time, he turned 25 on Monday. I used to bring him down to Parliament when Parliament sat, that made it possible for me to do my job when he was a bub. So, the travel included that to occur before he started school.
JOURNALIST: [CROSSTALK] the historic nature of this and whether it's up to you to act upon it?
PRIME MINISTER: They are historic and every now and again what you see is issues arise. What I've been focused on this week, to be frank, is one of the biggest reforms that we will do in the entire time that we're in office. That has been totally my focus. My focus is not on entitlements and the Finance Minister's rules. To be frank, my focus has been on this. I'm aware that this is an issue and of course community expectations are important.
JOURNALIST: Does that mean you think the rules are appropriate?
JOURNALIST: Just a question on travel spending in the APS, outside of your Ministers. Agencies have been told to cut their travel spending so you can find savings to balance the Budget for MYEFO next week. We heard some examples and estimates of questionable spending, tens of thousands for an EA to go and scope out hotels, annual reports show senior bureaucrats are spending millions of dollars a year and largely flying business class. Is it time to tighten up the rules for travel in the APS and why don't you make all bureaucrats fly economy on flights under three hours, as recommended by a review that found this to save $4 million a year?
PRIME MINISTER: I haven't seen the review, but certainly people should look for value for money at all times.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, are you confident that Minister Wells didn't arrange her 40th birthday celebrations in Sydney, which you attended in August, around or before her ministerial duties that she had that weekend?
PRIME MINISTER: It was a ministerial council meeting. A ministerial council meeting brings Ministers from every state and territory. It was an energy ministers' meeting that had communications attached to it. So yes, absolutely I am, because ministerial council meetings are held face-to-face, like we have whenever possible. Ministerial council meetings, I've been to many of them over six years and been to a few National Cabinet meetings as well. It's always better to do it face-to-face. It produced a communique at that time as well.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the health ministers are meeting tomorrow. A final offer was put on the table last night. Tim Nicholls just got up. Queensland Parliament called it underwhelming, said it didn't meet the requirements of Queenslanders who'd been hoping for a Christmas gift, but instead heard from the Grinch. What's your response to that and is there anything more you can put on the table to make the state and territory leaders come to the table?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'll make this point to Minister Nicholls, is it? And the Queensland Government. What's happened when they've written to me, is I've read about it in the paper first. I wrote to them in good faith. You didn't get a drop of the letter. That's how negotiations happen. If the Queensland Government is serious about actually getting a breakthrough, they'll act in a mature way and engage in response to the letter that I sent in good faith.
In 2023, the deal that was on the table was for an additional $13 billion of additional money. Given Minister Nicholls' statements, what we have on the table is an additional $10 billion on top of that. So, $23 billion. That's on top of the 6.5 per cent increase in health. Now, Minister Nicholls has one job, to run public hospitals in Queensland. If he thinks that the one job that his job as Health Minister is to somehow deflect to the Commonwealth when we are on top of that, on top of that, providing additional funding for health and hospitals in Queensland.
We provided additional funding in the last year. In addition to that as well, we have provided for the fair proportion of the 137 additional Urgent Care Clinics that we have opened up since we committed to do that.
This morning I was in the electorate of Grayndler in Marrickville opening an Urgent Care Clinic, one of four that have opened this week in Sydney. They are opening around Queensland, including in regional Queensland. Over coming weeks they have been regularly being opened up and what they are doing is taking pressure off the emergency departments of hospitals.
The other thing I will point out to Minister Nicholls is that the $8.5 billion, this is all on top of the 6.5 per cent, on top of the $23 billion, on top of the 137 Urgent Care Clinics, is the $8.5 billion for the tripling of the Bulk Billing Incentive. What that has seen already, in October there were 7 million bulk billed visits to GPs. In November, 11 million visits to bulk billing GPs – a jump from where it was before. 4 million visits additional as a direct result of the investment.
Now Mr Nicholls has one job, he should do it and not try to use what was a letter in good faith to him. I'm surprised that that is the response. I wrote to them yesterday, it arose from the meeting that we had yesterday with Minister Butler and our processes. We had a meeting yesterday as well of the appropriate body. And so I just say to Premiers, if they want to conduct a debate through the media, well that's up to them, but they should engage in good faith. If not, the Commonwealth does have other options.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, can I just ask about the sentiment you just shared that the current expenses regime allows more women to serve in Parliament, that you know, Parliament should be a welcoming place to women. How does that sentiment square with your government's refusal to acknowledge that two judges have now found that Fiona Brown and Linda Reynolds were falsely accused of covering up a rape claim and your government's refusal to apologies to them?
PRIME MINISTER: There's a process where one of those people who is currently taking action against the Commonwealth. Therefore, the protection of the Commonwealth means that I don't intend to comment on that.
I will say that this arose out of an issue where a judge has found that a young woman who was a Liberal Party staffer was, on the balance of all likelihood, and that was reinforced by a second case recently, was raped by another Liberal Party staff member in the office of the Defence Minister in Parliament House.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, on the taxpayer entitlements using taxpayer money for MPs. Are you happy with the rules to stay as they are?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the rules have been set –
JOURNALIST: But are you happy for them to stay?
PRIME MINISTER: The rules have been set by the former Government. They were set in the wake of an issue of Sussan Ley and her expenditure.
JOURNALIST: And you have no plans to change them?
PRIME MINISTER: What I'm focused on today is an issue which is a revolution. This issue is, you will talk about for a lot longer than you talk about the issues which you are raising, which I accept are legitimate to be raised. I've answered multiple questions on it today.
JOURNALIST: And there has been nothing in your answer to suggest you are interested in changing the rules?
PRIME MINISTER: I am focused, what I have said very clearly is what I am focused on. I'm focused on one of the biggest reforms, when you look back and, you'll be able to write a book maybe on the period of the Labor Government. When you look back and you look at what are the five biggest things that we did, I tell you what, this will be one of them and that's what makes me proud. Thanks very much.