TRANSCRIPT: MIDWAY POINT PRESS CONFERENCE, 11 June 2021

9:01AM

E&OE

WITH: THE HON. MARK COULTON MP, MINISTER FOR REGIONAL HEALTH, REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS & LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MEMBER FOR PARKES, SENATOR THE HON. JONATHON DUNIAM, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR FORESTRY, FISHERIES & INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT, SENATOR FOR TASMANIA, SENATOR THE HON. ERIC ABETZ, SENATOR FOR TASMANIA & THE HON. MICHAEL FERGUSON MP, STATE MINISTER FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, INFRASTRUCTURE & TRANSPORT, FINANCE, STATE DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION & HOUSING, STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR BASS.

Subjects: Midway Point Intersection Solution, Hobart City Deal, Vaccine Roll-Out;

MICHAEL FERGUSON

A special welcome to the Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack. It’s always great to have you here in Tasmania and together with Mark Coulton, Eric Abetz and Jonno Duniam, this team is working together between State and Federal Governments. We’ve gathered here at the side of the Midway Point Traffic Solution. It was only late last year – it feels like just a few months ago – that we were here at the same place announcing the Fulton Hogan were the successful contracting business for the $46 million transformation of this bottleneck. Now the south-east traffic solution, which is a broader set of six projects, is all about relieving congestion, dealing with bottlenecks, transforming two-lane highways into four-lane highways and ensuring that people in the south-east part of Tasmania can safely and effectively and productively move in and out of their capital city. This project is running on time and on budget. We’re thrilled with the project today. Midway Point has suffered from an out-of-date roundabout construction with one lane each way with poor connectivity to Penna Road and very difficult for commuters, particularly from the south-east and the Sorrell areas coming into Hobart. It’s one of the recognised bottlenecks and this project is transforming that. My latest advice is that this project will be completed in the second half of next year, which is fantastic for the local community and also when you take into account all of the six projects, including the duplication of these causeways, we’re going to see a transformation of the quality of life for people in this part of Tasmania. This is a $350 million partnership between the two governments, but it’s actually symbolic of the works occurring right around Tasmania directly as a result of the strong friendship and sense of team work that we have between the two Federal and State governments and long may that continue.

Michael, while I’m on my feet, I just would like to take this opportunity to particularly acknowledge you as a friend and a colleague and thank you for the extension of the south-bound extension of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme. We’ve been lobbying for this for some time. The Federal Government have delivered in spades at the recent Federal Budget. This is actually of significant meaning and assistance to Tasmanian businesses who are shipping. They’ve asked me to pass on their thanks, I’m doing that to honour that today. So, Michael, thanks for your support of our industries here. I should quickly mention that our civil contractors, our community here in Tasmania, they are [inaudible] with work at the moment and they are looking for more workers so that we can continue our program long into the future. But the partnership is actually creating jobs here in Tasmania and improving the quality of life for Tasmanians. Over to you, Acting Prime Minister.

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, thank you, my good friend Michael Ferguson and my other good friend here, Senator Eric Abetz, has just reminded me that if you’re going to run a country there’s no better place to do it than Tasmania. It wasn’t that long ago Jonno Duniam and I stood at the other end of this particular road and we announced, we looked at, we signed the contracts for Fulton Hogan to get on with this work and it’s great to see the progress of this important corridor – this congestion-breaking corridor. $280 million of Federal Government, supported ably by Senator Eric Abetz, by Senator Jonno Dunia, and it’s really good to have my colleague, Mark Coulton here because Mark is the Minister for, amongst other things, Local Government and last night we had dinner with Roger Jaensch and the President of ALGA, Linda Scott and we discussed what we need to do as far as local councils are concerned.

Local councils – 29 of them across Tasmania – are receiving $73.7 million under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program. Now that funding is going to make sure that we get the right local outcomes for local people. Councils are feeding into that process and we know that through the back end of the drought, through the bushfires that our country has endured, through all other things, including COVID, of course – not to mention COVID – our local councils have been there. But if you want to get jobs on the ground and infrastructure happening, it’s through local councils that you can do it very quickly. I know this is supported by Michael Ferguson. I know it is because he phones me every other day to talk about Tasmania, to talk up Tasmania and to tell me about the progress of such things as the south-east corridor where this is going to be so important for access for one of the fastest-growing areas in Hobart, indeed, the State – Sorrell. And we want to make sure that the people of Sorrell can have access of course, to Hobart sooner and safer and that’s what we’re doing this duplication. That’s what we’re doing with these projects, these joint projects in partnership between state and federal governments.

I had breakfast this morning with Peter Gutwein, the Tasmanian Premier and we talked infrastructure. We talked about what is needed for Tasmania to continue to grow, to continue to prosper. And we’re committed in Canberra to provide the infrastructure, to provide the funding for State and local governments right throughout Tasmania to get things done, to get jobs on the ground, to bust through that congestion and to provide the right outcomes and options for Tasmanians.

JOURNALIST

Does the Federal Government remain fully committed to Hobart’s City Deal?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Absolutely. Absolutely we do. Indeed, we’ll be having discussions such as that later on this morning. That’s why I’m here. Tasmania is a great example. It’s a microcosm, if you like, of the sort of progress that we need to make out through COVID. I commend Peter Gutwein for what he’s done. I commend his Government and the part Michael Ferguson and Roger Jaensch and others have played to make sure that Tasmania can be its best self. You know, if we could replicate this right around the nation the progress would be rapid indeed.

JOURNALIST

Is there money in the Hobart City Deal for the Northern Rail Corridor? Would you like to see light rail in Hobart? We know rail is a big component of regional communities. Would you like to see trains in the city here?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, I’m happy to discuss any of these options with Michael Ferguson. I’m happy to provide infrastructure funding. Indeed, we’ve got $110 billion – $110 billion – of infrastructure right across the nation at the moment supporting, it is supporting 100,000 workers. In the May 11 Budget that Josh Frydenberg handed down, there was an additional $15.2 billion supporting an extra 30,000 workers. Many of those projects and people are here in Tasmania. So, we’re getting on with building a better future. We’re getting on with building a better Tasmania.

JOURNALIST

Are you worried that confidence in the AstraZeneca will be hit by the latest blood clot death?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

I urge and encourage Australians to get their vaccination and if what has happened in Victoria in recent weeks has proven one thing, it is that we need to break out of our complacency and make sure we get those shots when we’re eligible to do so and I’m very, very pleased that just over the past week 844,000 Australians have done just that. I know, I come from New South Wales and how many more New South Wales people have actually, because of what’s happened in Victoria, went out and got their shot. Indeed, I got mine on Monday. I encourage and urge others to do the same.

JOURNALIST

How soon would you like to see a Singapore travel bubble open up and why is it a priority over the Pacific?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, it’s a priority, as are all these travel bubbles. I know the Prime Minister will be having discussions with the Singaporean officials. I know that I’ve been having those discussions. I know the Department has been having those discussions. But we’ll open travel bubbles when it is safe to do so. We will, of course, take the best possible medical advice the whole way through. We’ve seen what’s happened with the New Zealand bubble. It’s been good and it has enabled that two-way travel between countries which have done very, very well – New Zealand and Australia – through COVID to keep case rates and, of course, the death toll very low and we’ve been the envy, indeed of the world. As far as the Pacific is concerned, we’ve said that we will get the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines and we’ll get them out to those islands to our neighbours, because that’s what good neighbours do. That’s what good friends do. And that’s what Australia does, because we know how important this is. It is our backyard.

[Car horn]

See, so there’s more toots of support for the infrastructure we’re rolling out. Tasmanians are loving it.

JOURNALIST

Why is Australia revamping the Collins-class submarines? Do you still have confidence in the Naval Group contract?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Absolutely I do and I know Peter Dutton has made this announcement. It’s an important announcement, to give them a 10-year longer life. It’s important for national security and you can rely on the Liberals and Nationals in Government in the Commonwealth to provide that national security. There’s one thing that’s different – one thing amongst many, of course – between our side of Government and Labor is that we have national security at the heart of everything that we do. And that’s why when we’re in Government we make sure that the right amount of spending per GDP is there for our Defence, for all those wonderful people who pull on the uniform and go to work each and every day to protect our country and others beside us. Under Labor there was not one ship built in their six sorry, dysfunctional, chaotic years. They didn’t place a reliance on Defence. In fact, the spending on defence money slipped to its lowest level since 1938. That was under Labor and we know what happened in 1939. Well, that won’t happen under us. That’s why we are providing this funding. That’s why we are providing this longer life for our submarines and we’ll make sure that Australia is properly protected at every step of the way.

JOURNALIST

Yesterday, we asked Mr Coulton if the party was in campaign mode and whether there was an election to be called rather soon. He said that was a decision for the Prime Minister. As Acting Prime Minister today, can you give any hints?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

I don’t think Governor-General Hurley can expect a visit from me and I’m sure Scott Morrison wouldn’t appreciate that either. The decision on the timing of the election is entirely Scott Morrison’s and he will make that decision. He has said all along that he wants to run full term, because if anything that Australians need right now it’s stable, secure government. That’s what we are providing. As Liberals and as Nationals we are making sure that we’ve got the right health outcomes, the right economic outcomes through COVID. This has been a very challenging time for Australians. I want to say again thank you to Australians. Thank you especially, because I’m in Tasmania, to people of this island state for being their best selves during COVID, it’s been a very, very difficult time in lockdowns and getting used to such things as social distancing, wearing face masks when asked to do so and Australians have been magnificent. So, thank you. I now urge and encourage Australians, Tasmanians, to get out and get their jab and to make sure they do the right thing for themselves, their families and strangers they may never know to get that vaccination rate up so that we can return to some sort of pre-COVID normality in our lives.

JOURNALIST

Will the Federal Government commit to funding for the $3.5 billion Marinus Link project?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, we’ll look at all these things. As I say, we are in there providing the sort of infrastructure, providing the sort of outcomes, programs and projects that Australians need and particularly here in Tasmania. So, those discussions are always taking place. It’s important that as a Federal Government we respond to states and the needs of local council. That’s why I’m so pleased that Mark Coulton, my Nationals colleague and indeed, the Minister for Local Government is here today talking about the importance of regional development. Now, these two blokes beside me, the Senators for Tasmania, they understand how important regional development is, as does Bridget Archer, I have to say, and Gavin Pearce. What a mighty job they’re doing in the north for Tassie. And Wendy Askew, of course, and Claire Chandler. I mean, they are really representing the interests of Tasmanians when they go to Canberra. Others? Well, they just talk up a big game in their local patch and say nothing when they get to Canberra and deliver nothing. But these people around me and those others I mentioned, they’re in there fighting for a better Tasmania.

JOURNALIST

Will The Nationals be running candidates in the lower house at the next election in Tasmania?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

We’ll make those decisions in due course.

JOURNALIST

Are you reconsidering that now? Because last time you were here I think you said yes, you would be.

MICHAEL McCORMACK

We did and we had very good candidates. But, as I say, we’ll make those decisions in due course. It’s a long way from the election. Scott Morrison’s overseas. I’m running the joint – feel safe. Feel safe and secure. But it’s a long way from the election. We’ve got a job to do and the last thing the public wants is for politicians to be talking about politicians. They want politicians to be talking about their lives, their bread and butter issues, their health outcomes and that’s what we as Liberals and Nationals are doing each and every day in each and every way.

JOURNALIST

Senator Duniam’s had to issue two formal apologies for defamation – for allegations of defamation recently. How does that make the party look and what do you think about that?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Senator Duniam is a good man. He is a very, very good man. We’ve been friends for a long time and I know that he has the best interests of Tasmanians at heart. Every step of the way and that’s why I’m so proud and pleased to stand with him, beside him, at any time, any part of the country, particularly here on the south-east corridor, talking about infrastructure.

JOURNALIST

You were 10 minutes late, were you stuck in traffic?

MICHAEL FERGUSON

Difference of expectations of start times. The traffic moved well for me today, but for many people it does not. That’s why we’re making these investments. That’s why it’s so good that there are so many women and men in hi-vis right now working around Tasmania to improve our infrastructure.

JOURNALIST

We had expected to see Derwent ferries running by now. Has that been delayed?

MICHAEL FERGUSON

You’ll be able to catch the Derwent ferry very soon. This is an innovative pilot the Government committed to and we’ve announced our preferred operator. Those contractual matters are now coming to a finalisation stage and we’re very excited and you’ll be invited to take a road on the ferry along with other people from Hobart in the near future.

JOURNALIST

When specifically?

MICHAEL FERGUSON

When the contract’s finalised. You know that’s how it works. I look forward to you bringing your bike along or your Metro Green Card so you can get free passage.

JOURNALIST

But it’s not expected now to be the first half of this year?

MICHAEL FERGUSON

It’s in its final stages of being negotiated. As I announced earlier this year, we’ve got our preferred provider. The contractual negotiations are coming to a finalisation between the department and Roche and I think that’s a great future piece of our innovation so that we can help to address the congestion challenge that Hobart has experienced. And before you ask, the reason that Hobart is experiencing this congestion is because of the strong economic growth, the increase in activity, men and women going about employment and more people making Tasmania home. That is a sign of our success, but with the growing economy we have growing pains and infrastructure needs to respond to that and that’s exactly why we’re here today.

JOURNALIST

The Integrity Commission doesn’t have jurisdiction it says to look at the activities of Ministers after Parliament’s been prorogued. Is that a loophole –

MICHAEL FERGUSON

Honestly, the Integrity Commission legislation has been bipartisan up until now. What the Integrity Commission has actually begged of politicians like Cassy O’Connor is to stop weaponising the various complaints and turning them into media stunts. That’s on the record from the Integrity Commission itself.

JOURNALIST

You wouldn’t support any changes?

MICHAEL FERGUSON

Look, I’ve answered that question and the Integrity Commission has been weaponised by the Greens constantly. The Integrity Commission itself has begged politicians like Cassy O’Connor to stop weaponising their complaints to the Integrity Commission and let them do their job, which at times is very important.

JOURNALIST

We saw some Extinction Rebellion protesters arrested this morning at a fuel depot outside the city. What would happen to these protestors under your proposed anti-protest legislation?

MICHAEL FERGUSON

Well, I can see the Acting Prime Minister would also like to answer this question. Those actions today were disruptive. They stop jobs. They stop people going about their lawful business. They only are going to be hurting people who can’t afford electric vehicles. Just have a think about that and the Extinction Rebellion activities, which I understand have happened around the country, are against the law. Now, you need to – you’re asking the wrong person this question. You need to go and see David O’Byrne and ask him why did he vote against our protestor legislation which would have seen much stronger penalties, including jail time, for people who illegally disrupt people going about their workplace business and their employment. So, we’re very disturbed about these actions this morning. And we’ve put up legislation that would have had tougher penalties to deal with this kind of behaviour and the Labor Party have blocked that legislation. But we will be putting it back before the Parliament this year and we expect David O’Byrne to change his position on this legislation, because he and Rebecca White blocked it and they need to start supporting it because the people of Tasmania need it.

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Look, the Extinction Rebellion people, honestly, one day they’re going to get in the way of an ambulance which is rushing somebody to a hospital to save their life. I mean, these people should get a life, get a job and actually lead a purposeful life, there are ways and means of protesting and it’s certainly legal in Australia to do so but do it in a responsible way. Do it in a legal way. These people are not doing it in a responsible way, a legal way; these people are disrupting people’s lives and livelihoods and they should desist. I don’t think we’ll see Adam Bandt coming out today, the Greens Leader and condemning them. They’re the same sort of people who think we should rehome the mice that are absolutely destroying and savaging northern New South Wales at the moment. Mark Coulton behind me, I mean, his farm, his home, his whole community being ravaged by mice. We’ve got people out there who are suggesting that they should be rehomed. I mean yes, they should be rehomed – I do agree, they should be rehomed in their capital city apartments, in their pantries, in their beds, so that they can experience what it’s like to have smelly mice all over the place but these Extinction Rebellion people, they serve no purpose at all. Thank you.

ENDS 9:20AM

Shane Manning