Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the Better Health Futures building at CDU. Our government was very proud to put in about $15 million into this building and also to support the Commonwealth funded places that just next week is going to see the first medical program here at CDU start off and see Territorians through the years becoming doctors, and we know that more of them will stay here in the Territory, and that's exactly what we want, and it's all been made possible due to good friend of the Territories, the Prime Minister. And welcome to Darwin once again, PM. The Prime Minister's been here so many times. We love it every time that he's here, and we know that not just Darwin, but he has the whole Territory close to his heart, but also knows that it's with Commonwealth support that Territorians and the Territory will go forward. Malarndirri McCarthy, my friend and colleague, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, also we've been working on this together to make sure that we've got a health workforce for the future, and that's been made possible through the support of the PM, of Mark Butler, the Health Minister, but so many others in our federal Labor team that always makes sure that the Territory does well and goes forward. So thanks, PM.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks so much, Luke. And a particular shout out to the students who I've been able to meet today who will start the journey to becoming doctors just next week as a direct result of the investment that my government has made into ensuring that Charles Darwin University here can have a medical school. The first intake will be 40, but it will grow to up to 200 over the coming years. And as well we've met students who will participate in the Pathways Program as well. People who will go on to enrol as doctors or become nurses or paramedics or health professionals in some way to make a difference to their fellow Territorians in particular. This is worthwhile investment. This is an investment in people's health, it's an investment in education, it's also importantly an investment in the future of the Northern Territory. This is something that has been spoken about for a long time but delivered by my government, first proposed just a few years ago and we see here it up and running. A first class facility that is as good as or better than any of these facilities right around the whole of Australia. And I think that Luke Gosling and Malarndirri McCarthy can be very proud of the work that they've done representing this community in the Northern Territory, making such an enormous difference. It's just one part of what we are doing here in the Territory. Today I can also announce a preferred aged care provider has been selected for the new aged care facility in Palmerston. Not for profit, Ozcare, has been selected to build and operate this residential aged care home. This will see up to 150 beds available. This is a very experienced provider that has done a lot of work, particularly in Queensland, and it will make an enormous difference. In addition to that we've just hit the 100,000 patients mark when it comes to Northern Territorians accessing Urgent Care Clinics in the Northern Territory. That has made an enormous difference across health in the Northern Territory, we have $560 million being provided in the current financial year. That is a 30 per cent increase in what was there just before. So, 8 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, one more on the way. Increased bulk billing since our investment on November 1. There are now 89 fully bulk billing practices here in the Northern Territory. And in addition to that, we've contributed $20 million for a new CareFlight airplane and helicopter. This is about healthcare here in the Northern Territory, and good health is the key to being able to access good education. It's a key to growth in an economy. And it's a key as well to a healthy society, because if you don't have healthy people, you can't have a healthy society. So I'm very proud to be back here once again in the Northern Territory. I'm a regular visitor here and this is my, indeed I asked on the way up, it's my 17th visit as Prime Minister in just three and a half years. It's something that I'm absolutely committed to, to make sure that we lift up the Northern Territory. My government is doing that and will continue to do that in the future. We'll hear from Malarndirri, and then happy to take some questions.
MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Thank you, Prime Minister. And I'm enormously proud to stand here on Larrakia country and acknowledge the work that has been done by medical specialists right across the Northern Territory, in particular, if I can point out, Di. Your incredible passion and your experience having served the Northern Territory on many occasions. We've seen the Northern Territory assist our neighbours in East Timor with the Bali Bombings. We know that this medical centre was absolutely needed. I am enormously proud of my colleague Luke Gosling, who fiercely pushed for this in such a short time, and so wonderful to work with Luke to make sure we have this facility. But for me, it is about seeing the lives of Territorians improve. And we can do that two ways - One, by building incredible centres like this, but two, by providing jobs. Jobs, jobs, jobs is my mantra. We've been able to, just in the last 12 months, see over 700 jobs across the Northern Territory with First Nations people in the Remote Jobs Program. I'm incredibly excited to see this medical centre available to Territory residents, but in particular for First Nations people to be doctors, to be able to go out to our communities and assist in what we're trying to do in battling the many scourges that we deal with as First Nations people in our communities. But even here in Darwin and Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. So well done, CDU. It's wonderful to be here with you all.
PRIME MINISTER: Fantastic. Happy to take some questions.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, will you make burning the Australian flag an offence?
PRIME MINISTER: I think that I respect the Australian flag and will continue to do so.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, on your Timor-Leste trip tomorrow. President Ramos-Horta has previously likened your government to a neglectful godparent who never visits. Is that fair or is that unfair?
PRIME MINISTER: And sorry to a -?
JOURNALIST: To a neglectful godparent who never visits. And is that fair? Is that assessment fair or unfair? And how are you using this trip to prove that China is not their best diplomatic partner?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, we have a great relationship with Timor-Leste and tomorrow I'll be given the great honour of addressing the Parliament of Timor-Leste as well as being received by the President, by the Prime Minister, by the Speaker of the Parliament, and indeed tomorrow as well I'll be given the great honour of being given Timor-Leste's highest civilian honour. That says a lot, the fact that I'll be given the equivalent of the AC here in Australia and that says something about the support that Australia has from Timor-Leste. We want to work very closely on its economic development, which is critical. This is Asia's newest country, ASEAN's newest member. They became a full member at the last ASEAN Conference - that was something that we supported very strongly. And I'm looking forward to a really constructive visit. Tomorrow I'll be accompanied by Luke Gosling who of course served in Timor-Leste for three years I think it was from memory and is a great friend of Timor-Leste as well.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, what's your reaction to WA police arresting a man after he allegedly threw an item into an Invasion Day rally crowd in Perth? And are you aware if any federal authorities are involved in investigating that incident?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this person who's been charged has been charged as a result of the allegation that he threw an item. And my view is that as a result of that they should throw the book at him. This was an incident that is quite shocking and he's been charged with two serious offences and I look forward to him being prosecuted to the full force of the law. As always, the Australian Federal Police remain available for supporting their state based colleagues. As the matter is now before the courts, I can't comment any further.
JOURNALIST: The incoming NT Administrator David Connolly has made social media posts labelled reprehensible and offensive by three of your federal colleagues, including Malarndirri and Luke. Those posts include personal criticisms of you. Are you concerned by Mr Connolly's appointment and have you considered blocking it?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm not worried about any comments about myself, I am worried about whether this person is able to properly represent the Northern Territory in a way which is appropriate. And my colleagues have made statements as Northern Territory representatives. This is a decision of the Northern Territory government. And the Northern Territory government have to explain and defend why it is that they think this person is appropriate.
JOURNALIST: So, in your view, is that the wrong appointment?
PRIME MINISTER: It is an appointment by the Northern Territory government and it's up to them and up to the Chief Minister to explain why they think it's an appropriate appointment.
JOURNALIST: Signed off by federal Cabinet though. Should it be revoked?
PRIME MINISTER: The Federal Cabinet is just a process of agreeing to the recommendation of the Northern Territory government. There is no precedent whatsoever for the Commonwealth Government intervening in such a way. And as someone who supports the sovereignty of governments, including the Northern Territory government, to make decisions about its future, it's up to them to defend this decision. It's not a decision that I would have made.
JOURNALIST: Why did it take five months for the Federal government to approve the decision?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, we have our processes.
JOURNALIST: What's happening with the Port of Darwin? That's a Northern Territory government decision that you're overruling. When is the Port of Darwin coming back to Australian hands?
PRIME MINISTER: That's a decision that was not in the interests of our national interests. And it's also a decision, bear in mind I might remind you as I have before, that this is a decision that had an incentive from the Commonwealth Government, actually paying the NT government an incentive to flog off the Port of Darwin. I believe it should be back in Australian hands. That's what we're doing. There are commercial negotiations and those commercial negotiations are continuing. We will ensure it comes back into Australian hands.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, on China's investments in Timor-Leste presidential palace and various public works like that, are you comfortable with that? Does that show perhaps that Australia is not close enough with Timor-Leste?
PRIME MINISTER: No, Timor-Leste is a sovereign government. There's a bit of investment from countries including China and Australia as well, you might have noticed. And so what we will do is always stand up for the national interests, but we'll also respect the sovereignty of Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste has no greater friend and partner than the Australian government.
JOURNALIST: There's a story around this afternoon that Kevin Rudd is chasing the role of the UN Secretary General. Would you support him in pursuing that position?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Kevin Rudd is about to become head of the Asia Society. That's the job that he has applied for and indeed was courted for to return to that job. That is what he will commence in April. He's done a fantastic job as the Australian Ambassador to the United States of America. That is our most important security relationship. And I'm sure that Greg Moriarty will continue the good work. Thanks very much.
JOURNALIST: Are you not ruling that out then?
PRIME MINISTER: It's not my decision, you might have noticed. He has a job that he will start in April, and that is as head of the Asia Society. Thanks very much. I look forward to the Australian media backing Australians for any position that they run for now and in the future.
