MADELEINE KING, MINISTER FOR RESOURCES AND MEMBER FOR BRAND: Welcome, everybody, to HMAS Stirling here on the remarkable Garden Island here in my home town of Rockingham. I'm really delighted to be here with the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Defence Industries, the Premier of Western Australia, and the Minister for Defence Industries as well. And here we are in front of the USS Vermont as part of the SRF West Rotation and the truly nation-building project that is AUKUS. It's going to be remarkable for Rockingham and Kwinana, suburbs like Baldivis, Warnbro, Safety Bay, all the way around the state as well. So with that, I'll hand over to the Prime Minister to talk more about what we're talking about here today. Thank you very much.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much, Madeleine. And behind us is AUKUS in action. The cooperation that we're seeing to increase the defence capability of Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom here at the home of submarines at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. Together with our friends from the United States and the UK, we are building the future of AUKUS, and we're building Australia's future as a direct result of this investment in our capability. What we're doing also has had massive spin off in advanced manufacturing in this country. This is a part of a Future Made in Australia. And I want to thank those, the Captain and others, on the USS Vermont for inviting us on this morning to have a look at exactly their capability. It is here for it’s submarine maintenance period at HMAS Stirling, and importantly, this is the first time that there's not a support ship here. We are doing it with the capability that's here right now, making such an enormous difference.
AUKUS is certainly happening at pace - strengthening national security, creating jobs and building a future made in Australia. There are 250 naval personnel who are working in Hawaii at the moment getting those skills that will then be transferred here back to Australia. And interestingly, as well, one of the things that the US Naval personnel tell us is that they are learning off each other, of course. Learning and lifting up the capability of all of the nations involved in this historic partnership. There are two Australian Officers and 11 Australian Sailors who are part of the crew of USS Vermont supporting all aspects of maintenance period and routine submarine operations over a four week period. These milestones highlight how AUKUS is creating extraordinary opportunities for Australian industry, for workers and for Defence personnel. This is an exciting time to be here in Australia. WA in particular, will benefit enormously from the work that is conducting here, the investment that we see here, and I'd ask the WA Premier to make some comments.
ROGER COOK, PREMIER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Thank you, Prime Minister. It's great to have you and your team in Western Australia this week, but importantly for this very important announcement, with regards to the AUKUS partnership. And Western Australia is proud to play its role as part of the AUKUS partnership, not only because its strategic importance, but of course, its importance in diversifying the Western Australian economy. Continuing to create great quality local jobs, and part of our Made in WA plan and the Future Made in Australia plan. We are really excited that we've seen the integration of the US and Western Australian crew and maintenance workers. It means SRF West is on track to really step up in 2027. And of course, we are all highly anticipating the development of the Henderson Precinct, where you will see vessels, optionally manned vessels, and of course, submarine maintenance work undertaken at that facility - literally creating tens of thousands of local, direct and indirect jobs. This is an extraordinary opportunity for Western Australia's economy and Western Australian workers, and we are really excited to play our part as part of the AUKUS partnership.
RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR DEFENCE: It is wonderful to be here at HMAS Stirling. HMAS Stirling is the home of our submarine fleet, but it will also be the home of the Submarine Rotation Force West at the end of 2027 and we are on track to achieving that. And what you see behind us today, with the maintenance underway on the USS Vermont, is a really important step down that path. As the Prime Minister said, this is the first time we are seeing a maintenance period on American Virginia Class submarine, happening at Stirling without a tender ship. It is the most extensive maintenance which has ever been done on an American submarine outside of America. This is work which is being undertaken by West Australians, and that itself is unique in terms of having non-American citizens working on a Virginia Class submarine. It's an example of how AUKUS is progressing. As the Prime Minister said, there are 13 Royal Australian Navy personnel who form part of the Vermont's crew. That's 10 per cent of the crew of that submarine are Australians. And again, it's an example of how our two countries are working closely together. Now, earlier this year, we were at Hofmann Engineering announcing that Hofmann’s had been qualified to supply into the Virginia Class supply chain, the US Navy Supply Chain in America. A really important step forward. Today, I can announce that HIFraser, a company that is based in Sydney and in Perth, which produces valves and fittings for pipes, has now been qualified under the Defence Industry Vendor Supplier Qualification Program. This is the first company to be qualified under that program to supply into the Virginia Class supply chain in America. So what that is, is a company in Australia, with Australian Workforce, making a contribution to the maintenance and the construction of Virginia Class submarines in America. And it is a real example of the partnership which is happening under AUKUS. Right here at HMAS Stirling, we're investing $8 billion over the decade, and that too is happening right now. The building behind you is under construction as part of that, that building, what we are seeing with the Henderson Defence Precinct, what we see with the USS Vermont being here, what we are seeing with Australian Defence Industry companies, Western Australian Defence Industry companies being qualified to supply into the US supply chain - all of this is an absolute demonstration that AUKUS is happening.
VICE ADMIRAL MARK HAMMOND, CHIEF OF NAVY: From Anzac Day 1915 to AUKUS today, Australian Submariners have been exceeding expectations. From when the crew of HMAS AE2 became the first Australians to the Turkish waters at 0300 on ANZAC Day 1915 and the first warship to penetrate the Dardanelles in 830 years, to the crew behind us serving aboard USS Vermont. Our people have proved time and again they were up to any technological or warfighting challenge. I'm particularly proud to have met the crew again, our 13 Sailors and Officers on board Vermont, and increasingly, the larger cohort of Australians training on naval nuclear propulsion. We have more than 70 Australians serving on Fast Attack Submarines operating out of Pearl Harbour now, with more than more than 100 others under training at the moment. And just overnight, we learned that our first female enlisted sailor had passed the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Training in the United States, and she'll graduate on the 5th of December. As you would expect, as the Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, I'm extremely proud of everything that our people have achieved. I'd love to give a shout out to our industry partners as well, particularly ASC, who are supporting the SNP here again, setting new standards and exceeding expectations. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much. We’re happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, while Roger Cook is here behind you, can I again ask what I asked you yesterday. Has the Premier raised health funding with you this week? And what’s your response to claims the Commonwealth has walked away from the deal to increase its share of hospital finding to 45 per cent?
PRIME MINISTER: Well you will get the same answer that you got yesterday if you ask the same question, with respect. And we're working through those issues. We don't conduct negotiations through public press conferences, at least I don't, as Australia's Prime Minister. What we have on the table is an increased amount of funding. And indeed, people talk about the agreement, what was on the table at that time was $13 billion. We currently have $20 billion on the table, and we're working those issues through. $20 billion is a substantial increase in health funding for hospitals. And that comes on top of, as the Premier knows, because he has been with me at Urgent Care Clinics, Urgent Care Clinics taking pressure off the emergency department of hospitals. We put, in addition to that, $8.5 billion dollars into the Medicare system by tripling the bulk billing incentive for GPs. What that's about is providing that primary health care, which is our primary responsibility as the national government. But we'll work these things through constructively. I'm very confident that, just like other agreements that we've worked through, including here in WA on schools and on other funding agreements they’ll be worked through in the interests of Australians.
JOURNALIST: But has Roger Cook raised the issue with you this week? And is a National Cabinet needed to sort it out?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what we do is we work with these issues through. National Cabinet meets when there’s broad agreement going forward and National Cabinet has had a range of meetings and sorted out a range of issues, including community services funding, including funding for legal aid, all of the increased funding that the Commonwealth has provided to states and territories has shown that we're a government that works in cooperation, and that's what we'll continue to do.
JOURNALIST: [inaudible] strike a deal by the end of the year?
PRIME MINISTER: We'll wait and see. If not, then the funding will roll over. So the states have a big incentive on engaging constructively, because otherwise it rolls over for another year.
JOURNALIST: On the CSIRO, there’s a lot that’s been said about your cuts to it being deeper than those done by Tony Abbott. What do you think, would that be a legacy you leave as a PM, not a friend of science and research?
PRIME MINISTER: We're a friend of science. And there's a guy here who is very keen on science
JOURNALIST: How do you feel about taking that title from Tony Abbott?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's just nonsense. You can come up with whatever rhetoric you like if you want to defend Tony Abbott –
JOURNALIST: What the staff have said is [inaudible] –
PRIME MINISTER: If you want to defend Tony Abbott – what they will know –
JOURNALIST: [INAUDIBLE]
PRIME MINISTER: Tony Abbott – when you’re finished. Tony Abbott gutted the CSIRO. Didn’t support scientific research. We are supporting scientific research. What we’re making sure is that the funding is going in the right directions. And what the staff there will know is that there was a substantial increase in staff. A substantial increase was made in previous budgets.
JOURNALIST: What the staff have said is that you’ve cut it worse than Tony Abbott and he gutted it [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the fact is that we support science and we support the CSIRO and we want to make sure that every single dollar of funding for scientific research is going in the right direction. That’s what we do.
JOURNALIST: Nevertheless, there are 350 full time employees that have now lost their jobs. I would argue they might think differently about what you said?
PRIME MINISTER: There were more jobs created than that in the CSIRO previously.
JOURNALIST: On AUKUS, Prime Minister, the US has a presence here today, but there's also a UK presence in Perth at the moment. Have you had a bet with Sir Keir on the return of the Ashes and have you filed a democratic protest about Creasegate and Bazball?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we are friends here when it comes to our defence and I'm a friend of Keir Starmer, as the Prime Minister of the UK, I regard him as a personal friend, as well as an important part of this project. But of course, when battle lines are drawn on Friday, then I will certainly be hoping that it's a 5-0 result here in Australia. And I do note that there was a seafarer, one of the Australian now submariners, learning skills in Hawaii who was born in Sheffield. I asked him who he'd be going for when the test starts on Friday and I was very pleased that his citizenship is secure by saying that he will be barracking for the mighty Australian team. And I wish Stephen Smith and all of the team all the very best. Of course there is also an important match, the PM's 11 versus the old enemy will take place at Manuka Oval in the following weekend in the lead up to the second test. And there we've selected a range of people, including the wonderful Sam Constance, but also a bit of experience with people like Peter Siddle.
JOURNALIST: On AUKUS, there's been a lot of concerns raised locally here, especially in Rockingham, about the ability of the town to keep up with everything that's growing here with AUKUS, especially when it comes to housing and traffic. What can you tell the people of Rockingham and give them confidence that that'll be looked after before things get too out of hand?
PRIME MINISTER: They can look behind you. See that? That's housing being built here, right now, for the people who will work here and this will be an enormous benefit for Rockingham. I might see if Madeleine wants to chime in here, but this is about jobs and economic activity here in the local region. You know what, if you're a small business here, if you're a local supplier, you're going to get massive benefit from this $8 billion investment in your neighbourhood. Madeleine, thanks.
JOURNALIST: [inaudible] –
MINISTER KING: Can I just finish off this one around Rockingham? Because I live around the corner and have done for many years. So, in regards to housing in Rockingham, that's fair that people, you know, have a concern. But I would address that concern by pointing out that Australian Defence Housing and Housing Australia combining to work on over 600 houses in the nearby region. Of course people that live around here and work on the base do travel from, you know, a lot of surrounding suburbs like Baldivis and Sacred Harbour, Port Kennedy and so forth. So, that Defence housing will spread out through that region. In relation to the traffic, we've committed to a study on the roads. And I drive those roads all the time so really understand the problem. And the Deputy Prime Minister and other Ministers have also driven, been driven on those roads really very frequently. So, I understand people's concerns, we're addressing them, we're very well aware of them.
JOURNALIST: I've been hearing those concerns, sort of, for a few years now, and state federal governments have told us time and again that it is going to be looked at. Is it a disconnect there in –
MINISTER KING: The people of Rockingham and the surrounding suburbs and it's a large area are very supportive of HMAS Stirling on Garden Island and have been ever since it started, myself included, my family included, have been here since the ‘50s and Garden Island came much later. It has changed this town and it's changed it for the better. We have a lot of naval personnel, a lot of ADF personnel working here. It's created thousands upon thousands of jobs in the local community. It has brought talent from around the country to this beautiful spot. What we're working on in AUKUS is a nation building project. A nation building project for our nation, but also for the capabilities of our friends in the US, in the UK. And as I know these are the words the navy use and I agree with it entirely - it's an evolution, not a revolution. This will take a bit of time, no doubt about it. But we know we have to stage this, we have to work and we work diligently with the local council who I speak to often at the city of Rockingham as well as the city of Kwinana that are also affected and will continue to do so. But I can assure the community we are well aware of the challenges ahead and I know the community supports facing those challenges because they want this to happen and to happen really well because it's in their benefit and in the national interest.
JOURNALIST: Judges in the Supreme Court and the Federal Court have now found there was no political cover up for Brittany Higgins’ rape. Do you accept those findings?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, I’m not commenting on legal matters.
JOURNALIST: It’s not a legal matter. That’s not a current case –
PRIME MINISTER: I’m not commenting on –
JOURNALIST: The Supreme Court Judge in WA found no Liberal Party cover up. They [inaudible] –
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, well, that's kind of the big issue.
JOURNALIST: But there’s also –
PRIME MINISTER: That's kind of the big issue.
JOURNALIST: Allegations of the Liberal Party –
PRIME MINISTER: That's kind of the big issue.
JOURNALIST: Found no evidence of [inaudible]. Therefore, should the payout to Brittany Higgins have been more rigorous to protect the reputations of Linda Reynolds and Fiona Brown?
PRIME MINISTER: Those things are hands off from the Government. I had no role in that as Prime Minister and that's entirely appropriate.
JOURNALIST: Should your senators who led the charge of a Liberal Party cover up over the Higgins case, apologise to Ms. Reynolds?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's not right. I don't accept that characterisation.
JOURNALIST: What don’t you accept about that?
PRIME MINISTER: I don’t accept –
JOURNALIST: Why don’t you accept that characterisation?
PRIME MINISTER: I don’t accept that characterisation –
JOURNALIST: Your party did accuse the Liberal Party –
PRIME MINISTER: A judge found that on the basis of probability a rape occurred –
JOURNALIST: But another judge found there was no cover up –
PRIME MINISTER: Hang on, hang on – a rape occurred in, that is what a judge found on the balance of probability, in a Ministerial office in Parliament House. I think that's a pretty big issue.
JOURNALIST: But isn’t it separate to the allegations of a cover up?
PRIME MINISTER: I think that is a pretty big issue.
JOURNALIST: But isn’t $2.5 million of taxpayer –
PRIME MINISTER: You can keep asking the same question and you'll get the same answer –
JOURNALIST: Well, you're not answering the questions or giving a valid answer -
PRIME MINISTER: Because it's not a question aimed at politics. This is not a political decision by me as Prime Minister. And that is entirely appropriate that that be the case.
JOURNALIST: Did you have any conversations last night with Paddy Gregg, the Austal CEO on [inaudible]? They're growing quite concerned about that decision process.
PRIME MINISTER: I might have said hello, but no in-depth conversation, no.
JOURNALIST: He said he was going to ask you some tough questions. Did he?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's a matter for him. If I do have a private conversation, then that's what I'll do.
JOURNALIST: [inaudible] waiting on a decision on Austal and Hanwha. Can you speak to why that's been delayed?
PRIME MINISTER: Again, it's an independent body. We have a range of processes in place that are at arm's length from party politics. One of those is the Foreign Investment Review Board processes. It's important they take place.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, on AUKUS. I mean, do you think that Australia can pull this off? Train the technicians, train the submariners and, you know, after this submarine maintenance period, what more work, on Australia’s part do you think it needs to get it done?
PRIME MINISTER: I not only think that we can do that, I can see that we are doing that. This isn’t some theory. This is the 13 officers and seafarers who are on the USS Vermont right now getting training. Two of them, who I was able to have a chat with, have been on board there for 18 months. This is happening. This is real. This is of great benefit to Australia.
JOURNALIST: A question on Türkiye's COP bid. Have you been talking to Erdoğan about a world leader Pacific meeting and resilience funding if Türkiye wins its bid? And what have you heard from Erdoğan and Türkiye about this proposal?
PRIME MINISTER: President Erdoğan and I have exchanged some letters over a long period of time. We're continuing to engage with Türkiye, but we're also engaging with other countries about the bid for COP31. I've said that what we want is for this to be resolved. We want it to be resolved in the interests of the collective action on climate change. So, we'll work those things through in the coming days.
JOURNALIST: Are you open to withdrawing Australia's bid, provided some meetings take place in the Pacific? And do you plan to discuss it with Türkiye's President at the G20?
PRIME MINISTER: We'll work through those issues in coming days. And I, of course, will be going to the G20 tomorrow.
JOURNALIST: So, it is – you are open to the idea?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I didn't respond to your question. As your learned friend here indicated before, I refer you to her allegation, which in this case is true, which is that we don't respond and we don't engage diplomatically at media conferences. That's not how you get things done in Australia's national interest. We'll engage diplomatically. We'll engage in Australia's national interest.
JOURNALIST: On AUKUS, can I ask the Deputy Prime Minister a couple of things? Minister King talked about public support for HMAS Stirling, any concerns that that might be impacted by the expanded exclusion zone? Can you guarantee the public will still have access to the waters around here? You would have seen them fishing on the bridge on your way over.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Look, people who have been engaged in boating and fishing around Garden Island in the past will be able to do it in the future. It's as simple as that. We have a regulator in place whose job it is to make sure that there are the highest standards of management and safety across this site. And the geography of that map is about the geography over the space where that safety and that management occurs. But it's not an exclusion zone. And people who've been able to fish and boat in the past will be able to do so in the future.
JOURNALIST: Will security have to be tightened though, around the area?
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Well, I mean, we are looking at the way in which security plays a part here and that is a part of how we will be managing this base going forward. And we've been really upfront about that. I mean, there are lots of challenges in relation to security. But we are working very closely with the local community and we're doing so in a way which is bringing them along and they're supportive of the opportunities that come with what's happening at this base. And in terms of specifically boating and fishing, all of that will continue.
JOURNALIST: The Rear Admiral on board was quite keen on the idea of the US maintaining submarines here in the long term. Have there been any discussions with the US about those arrangements well into the future?
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Maintenance of submarines happens at various levels and there would be a degree of maintaining of submarines which will happen here at HMAS Stirling in the way in which you are seeing with the USS Vermont. Of course, what we are also doing, and the Premier alluded to this or spoke about this, is establishing the Henderson Defence Precinct. The Premier and I announced that last year and just a couple of months ago, the Prime Minister was at the Henderson Defence Precinct announcing a $12 billion commitment to develop that. And that will be the place where we see the major maintenance and sustainment of our future submarines. And we expect that that will also be a facility that is available for the maintenance and sustainment of US submarines.
JOURNALIST: Have you discussed that with the United States?
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: We are working through all the parts of how we are developing both Henderson and Stirling as AUKUS precincts for the pathway by which we acquire nuclear powered submarine capability, but also a pathway by which America is able to operate from here as part of SRF West. And the sustainment and maintenance of subs is a key part of that.
JOURNALIST: Premier, on corrections in WA, judges are being, you talked about this yesterday, showing a pattern of giving lighter sentences than they say they otherwise would, because of the conditions in prison. What sort of responsibility does the Government under you take if prisoners are released earlier than they should be and go on to hurt or kill someone because they were released too soon and also didn't get the rehab that they were supposed to in prison?
PREMIER COOK: Well, I can't speak for those judges, you'll have to ask them. But obviously we expect the judicial system to keep our community safe. And we're continuing to make sure that we expand our prison estate so that we can deal with the prison population.
JOURNALIST: Judges say that's happening because of inhumane conditions in your prisons. Is that not your responsibility?
PREMIER COOK: I just don't accept that description or characterisation.
JOURNALIST: Premier, on health funding, what was the outcome of the phone hookup with state and territory leaders this morning - and while the Prime Minister is here, do you believe the Commonwealth is honouring the 2023 funding agreement?
PREMIER COOK: Look, we will continue to talk with the Commonwealth and we are hopeful that we'll be able to reach an agreement soon in relation to hospital funding. Can I just say, look, I've known this bloke for over 40 years. He has the same principles, the same values as I do when it comes to making sure people can get the health care they need when they need it. And I just want to take the opportunity to point out the incredible work that the Albanese Labor Government has done to boost primary care, GPs, access to GPs, which has been one of my biggest gripes, both as a former Health Minister and now as Premier. We need people to have access to their GPs so they don't have to go to their hospitals. And the work that the Albanese Government has done, particularly around Urgent Care Clinics, has been a significant change and improvement in that situation.
JOURNALIST: That's all easier said than done though, isn't it? And obviously takes time. In the meantime, your hospitals are overflowing with record demand. So, what's the solution for the here and now for hospitals and what was the result of the phone meeting?
PREMIER COOK: We have record demand, we have record investment in health care and I'll never apologise for that investment. We want to make sure Western Australians can get the health care they need when they need it. And an important part of that is the partnership we have with the Commonwealth around funding across the entire range of care opportunities. And we'll continue to talk with the Government to reach an agreement as part of that partnership.
JOURNALIST: You have previously actually used the words of ‘throwing a brick’ at the Commonwealth and not doing it share on health –
PREMIER COOK: I don't think I ever said throwing a brick.
JOURNALIST: You have. You said you threw compliments, but you also threw a brick.
PREMIER COOK: Okay.
JOURNALIST: You've said the Commonwealth is not doing enough on health and that's resulting in pressure on the hospitals. Are you going weak at the knees now just because the Prime Minister is standing next to you?
PREMIER COOK: Not at all. Because the Prime Minister knows that I will always stand up for Western Australia and we'll continue to make sure that we work with the Commonwealth to improve the full range of care opportunities across people's life journey. And that means making sure they have access to primary care, making sure that we've got strong investment in our hospital system and aged care. And those conversations are ongoing. I met with my fellow Premiers today. We are continuing to push forward with that conversation.
JOURNALIST: Primary school students have been tested after a diabetes needle test was shared. What's your response to that?
PREMIER COOK: Well, I'm surprised that it happened. I think that's basic public health hygiene that you do not share sharp pinpricks in relation to these things. This took place in a private school environment. I think they have the matter in hand.
JOURNALIST: Power supply in Kalgoorlie – is the community ready for this summer [indistinct]?
PREMIER COOK. So, we've done a range of things in Kalgoorlie to ensure that we can support one of these, one of the most important edge of grid communities as part of the Southwest interconnected system. And that includes working with our friends in the resources industry to ensure that we have access to their power. We've upgraded the local generators so they can do a black start, which is essentially meaning that they can kick in straight away without automatically shorting the system. And of course, as you know, we've got a significant investment pathway for the future, including a new vanadium battery energy storage opportunity out in Kalgoorlie to build out the resilience of. Of the system. Thanks very much.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, is the G20 still relevant without the US and Chinese Presidents attending? And what do you see as the point of the G20 in 2025?
PRIME MINISTER: The G20 is certainly relevant. The two superpowers, of course, the United States and China, the two largest economies in the world. But Australia, as a middle power, engages in our region as well. And I will have bilateral meetings beforehand with countries like India. I look forward to engaging with Prime Minister Modi. I look forward as well with engaging or re-engaging with the President of Korea, the Prime Minister of Japan who is newly elected. My European friends from Germany, from Italy, from France, from the United Kingdom, Mark Carney from Canada. This is an important gathering. The world is interconnected. That's why we're here at a defence facility, because the world is interconnected and we need to be engaged in the world across the range of economic, social, environmental and also security issues. So, I'll be representing Australia's national interest when I'm there in South Africa.
JOURNALIST: It doesn't lose some of its power without the US President and the Chinese President?
PRIME MINISTER: My equivalent, the Chinese Premier, will be attending, Premier Li. And we of course had very recently a gathering and I was directly engaged with the President of the United States and the President of China, just in Korea just weeks ago. And they were engaged with each other. So, that engagement is important and we welcome that and we welcome the fact that there was positive dialogue between the two Presidents, it was very positive. So, we will engage constructively. It's an opportunity for Australia. Whenever there is a forum that Australia has the opportunity to participate in, we need to take it. We are a middle power, we need to take it to advance our national interests. That is very much what I will do. Engaging in our national interest when overseas in South Africa, it's going to be a busy time. I'm travelling there tomorrow. I'll return and leave on Saturday evening after the formal dinner, straight back into the last week of Parliament. So, it's not fun. We're not doing it for fun or for sightseeing. We're doing it because it is in our national interest. And just like here, my Government is very focused on our national interest. We're focused on the work that's taking place here. We're focused on jobs, the Future Made in Australia, we're focused on health, as the Premier has said. I'd be surprised if any premier said no, no, we don't want any extra money for any health or education or social program. That's just the way it is. We accept that. But we engage constructively in Australia's national interests.
And it stands in stark contrast, it must be said, with our opponents who are continuing to just talk about each other. I mean, some say that the so-called policy document, it's not really a policy document, it's really just a pamphlet. We have a plan for the economic transition, the Coalition have a pamphlet. And it's a pamphlet that some have suggested in the Liberal Party with people like Hollie Hughes resigning, calling out the chaos that is there in her former party that she represented in the Senate just a few months ago, they're calling that out. And one of the things they're saying is that the policy that's been written effectively by Barnaby Joyce – but I think that is giving it too much credit because I really think that, you know, perhaps the policy's been written by kids. If you go into a local school here, primary school, you'll have local kids stand up and they'll say, 6-7, 6-7. It's a big thing. It's driving teachers crazy. Well, 6-7, what does it mean? It means nothing. A bit like the pamphlet that they've put out. Sussan Ley thinks that it's okay to say one thing on the ABC, a different thing when she's on 2GB. Who knows what it means for coal in some places, oh, ‘it doesn't stack up’, that's the whole basis of the policy that's going forward. It is a policy about nothing. A bit like the 6-7 phenomenon that we're seeing kids engage with.
Thanks very much.