PRIME MINISTER:

When we came to government in 2013, we committed to fixing mobile black spots around Australia.

Our first round saw 499 new base stations committed around Australia. Our second round $60 million - that will total $220 million of government money committed to the Mobile Black Spots Program - will see 1400 black spots around Australia addressed with 266 new base stations.

Our $60 million of government money is leveraging $213 million in total from the telecommunication companies.

The Parliament has today passed important legislation giving the Australian Defence Force (ADF) greater power to target terrorists with lethal force. 

The Criminal Code Amendment (War Crimes) Bill 2016 aligns Australia’s domestic law with international humanitarian law and provides legal certainty for Defence personnel fighting terrorist groups in combat zones.

JANICE PETERSEN:

Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, thanks for joining us. I think this is your first time joining us on SBS News. You've managed to squeeze in the backpacker tax today with support of The Greens, that’s only after others pulled out. Question Time, of course was disrupted yesterday. It's been a pretty shambolic end to the year, hasn't it?

PRIME MINISTER:

PRIME MINISTER:

We said that this would be a term of delivery and so it is. We're delivering our National Economic Plan.

Over the last two weeks, we've succeeded in securing the passage of the Registered Organisations Bill, and the restoration of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, the two bills that were the triggers for the double dissolution election. We've secured our big superannuation reform. And we are getting on with our job of delivering on the promises we made to the Australian people.

The Parliament has passed important legislation to keep high risk terrorist offenders behind bars.

This legislation will keep Australians safe from convicted terrorists who continue to pose an unacceptable risk to the community at the end of their custodial sentences.

The importance of the new scheme is highlighted by the number of convicted terrorists currently behind bars and the unprecedented number of Australians – 55 people from 24 counter-terrorism operations – charged with terrorism offences since September 2014.

LEON BYNER: Prime Minister welcome.

PRIME MINISTER: Merry Christmas to you. There was quite a bit of merriment and joy at the adjournment at the end. But it’s been a very good week, a very good week for Australia, a very good week for Australians.

[Broadcast begins]

PRIME MINISTER:
The import ban was put in place pending a decision to classify- reclassify the guns and there has not been agreement between the states and territories to date. When agreement is reached, then the import rules will be changed so that they conform with the classification. At the moment, there is a ban on lever-action guns with a magazine capacity of more than five rounds being imported and so there are different proposals that have been mentioned.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman today announced up to $6.84 million in disaster funding to help restore the State’s world-renowned parks and reserves that were affected by storms and floods through June.

This assistance will be provided through the Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

The severe weather earlier this year had a significant impact on Tasmania, particularly affecting its national parks and reserves and the State’s vital tourism industry.

PRIME MINISTER:
Thank you very much, Professor, and it’s good to be here at The Alfred with my colleagues, the Health Minister, Sussan Ley and Darren Chester, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.

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