DR RACHEL SWIFT, LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR BOOTHBY: Good morning and welcome to Park's Lifestyle Village. I'm absolutely thrilled to be joined with Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and Senator Anne Ruston. We've just had a wonderful morning tea with some local residents and members of the community, self-funded retirees. So I'll pass it over to the Prime Minister to tell you a bit more.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you very much, Rachel. And it's good to be here with Anne as well. As we know, there are significant pressures on the Australian economy being caused by events around the world. The Reserve Bank Governor made that very, very clear yesterday and in making the decision that they made. As Australia comes out of this pandemic there are many pressures that continue, whether they be on interest rates, whether they be on the cost of living. These pressures are real and after the 21st of May, they will remain as being real and they will continue. And that's why our economic plan is about providing that shield to Australia from these pressures to mitigate and to lessen the impact of these pressures that are occurring from all around the world. That is why Australia has found itself in a stronger position when it comes to issues of the pressures on inflation or pressures on rates. Australia is faring much better and that's because of an economic plan that understands and preempts in many respects these impacts on the Australian economy and that will continue in the years ahead. That's why I've said from the outset of this campaign that this election is a choice and it's a choice about who is going to be better able to manage these significant pressures on the Australian economy in the years ahead. Pressures that will impact on you and your family, on your income, on your retirement income, on your jobs, on your communities, because these pressures will continue to be real. The election doesn't change what the pressures are. The election can change though who is managing those pressures on your behalf and the strength of the economic shield that is available to you because of the economic management credibility and policies of the Government. And that's why with these pressures on the Australian economy, now is not the time to risk Labor and the risk of Labor is very real. They will tell you that simply a vote at the election will make those pressures fade away. Australians know that's not true and they know that shows a lack of understanding about the very real economic challenges that the country continues to face. And today, as I've been sitting here and discussing with self-funded retirees and pensioners, an important shield that we need to provide for them, particularly over the next few years, is to ensure that they can have certainty as rates rise about their access to pension. And that's why today we are announcing that we will be freezing the deeming rates for the next two years at their current levels. So at 0.25 per cent for financial investments, up to $53,600 - so those short term investments that people have and the various deposits and other and other investments and 89,000 for pensioner couples and the upper right, which impacts about 40 per cent of payment recipients with deemed assets that will remain at 2.25 per cent on investments over that threshold. Now this will benefit around 890,000 Australians, including 450,000 aged pensioners. Now this goes in addition to the changes we've made to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, which will see 50,000 largely self-funded retirees, those potentially on part pensions, be able to access these supports of the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, which also means in turn they get access to the, the relaxing we've had on being able to get to the safety net on pharmaceuticals from 48 scripts down to 36 scripts. It means that they be able to access those concessional rates on pharmaceuticals, which for older Australians aren't a choice, they're a necessity for the quality of their life. And so we understand the pressures that are being faced, whether it's those who are self-funded retirees who have worked hard to be self-funded retirees and pensioners and part-pensioners by ensuring that they can have certainty over these next few years about their access to the pension, or indeed Australians who are paying taxes and and working at ensuring that they get tax relief, or those who are going to the bowser and filling up their tank and ensuring that we've halved the petrol tax. All of this has been designed to shield Australians from the significant pressure that is coming on inflation and on interest rates all around the world. And so this is part of our plan, and our plan is ongoing to continue to protect and shield Australians from the uncertainties that are definitely out there and will continue. The other thing I'd say is, given that banks have always been very quick to pass on higher interest rates to mortgage holders, they should be just as quick to ensure those changes pass on to deposit holders like those who we're here with today. And I think it's only fair what we're announcing here on deeming rates is about giving self-funded retirees and pensioners a fair go. They've saved hard for their retirement. They've been doing it tough over the last two or three years as well. And they've been seeking to eke out their earnings from their superannuation on reduced rates for a long time and we want to ensure that they have a fair go going forward and that's what our economic shield is all about. And we don't want to risk that economic shield with a Labor Party that we know does not have the economic record of the Coalition, that a Labor leader who even just three weeks ago didn't even know what the interest rate was, let alone how to deal with it, or a Labor Party who we know just doesn't know how to manage money. And as those self-funded retirees and pensioners I spoke to this morning, they're the ones who experienced the 18 per cent interest rates. They know what it's like when a Labor Party loses control of the finances. They know what it's like to run small businesses as they did as they were saving for their retirement many years ago, when a Labor Party has a recession that they had to have, they were told by the Labor Party. They understand the risk of what happens when you get a Labor Party that doesn't know how to manage money because they paid the price and they paid a heavy price. And I want to make sure they get a fair go. I'll cross over to Anne who will say a few things and then we'll happy to take some questions.
MINISTER RUSTON: Well, thank you very much. Just in relation to the decision today to freeze deeming rates and the rates that they currently are at. I just want to give you a little bit of an explanation about what that actually means. Of course, deeming rates were brought into effect a number of years ago to be out of make for older people who have additional income over and above their pensions or their payments to make sure that they had a simpler or an easier way to be able to report their income. So instead of having to report income every fortnight, they are just deemed to have earned a particular amount on their assets. So what this means is that older Australians have got less burden. They don't have to become weekly administrators because they have some money in the bank. It also very importantly increases the predictability for older Australians about what is going to be in their fortnightly amounts that they receive from the Government. Of course, one of the things that we hear often and we hear it, heard it again today is that older Australians just like to know what they're going to be receiving every fortnight. They don't want it to be going up and down because that way they can plan for their future. So we want to make sure that we continue to provide that level of certainty. We also want to provide surety going forward. We know that older Australians particularly have felt the uncertainty of the last two years very, very keenly, and the decision today to freeze deeming rates for the next four years provides them with two years of certainty so that they know that if their circumstances don't change over the next two years, that they will continue to receive the same amount every fortnight. This means that somebody who is a single person who is on payment will be able to have approximately $250,000 in financial assets. That's income earning assets before they will lose their pension, or any part of their pension. For somebody who's a member of a couple, it'll be about $400,000 that they will be able to have in financial assets before they lose any of their pension. So today, once again, what we've been able to do because of our strong economy is to provide additional certainty for older Australians that we will be able to support them through these continuing uncertain times and give them the surety that they deserve in their older years.
JOURNALIST: You've talked about obviously the how quick big four banks are to pass on interest rate cuts, or interest rate rises rather. But slow to deposit holders. What's your message to the big four banks CEOs who are thinking you've been perhaps a little bit slower, a little bit stingy, in passing along that. And just, the RBA now sees inflation peaking at 6 per cent. We're probably going to be lucky to WPI somewhere between three or four if things go well. What's your message to those households who are now looking down the barrel of having a fairly decent backwards in real wage, back step in their wages over the coming years?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, first of all, when it comes to deposit rates, deposit holders have been doing things tough. Self-funded retirees have been doing things tough. They've been pushing through this pandemic like so many others have. And my message to the banks is to give them a fair go. Those deposit holders have stood by the banks and holding their savings in banks. And banks have have have through the pandemic supported mortgage holders provided mortgage relief. I acknowledge all of that. They've done that for businesses as well through the pandemic, and I acknowledge what they have done there as well. And that is a positive thing that they have done for their clients, but their clients have also been deposit holders, deposit holders who deserve a fair go, that where the cash rate rises, then they have a very reasonable expectation that their returns on their hard earned savings would also get that opportunity. And I'd be encouraging the banks. It's obviously their call and there is no way to force them to do that. But I think, I think in fairness, to those deposit holders who have stood by their savings and with the financial institutions they've been with through the pandemic, I think they deserve the recognition of that, ensuring that those benefits are passed on directly to them. Now you're right about the pressures on the economy and the Reserve Bank made it very clear yesterday that the inflation outlook, based on world events, will see inflation continue to have pressure upon it before later falling. But the good news yesterday was the Reserve Bank said that they are seeing evidence of wages rising. Now our plan has always been for wages to rise by getting more and more Australians into work. That is what puts ultimately pressure on wages to rise. The Reserve Bank Chair said very, very clearly yesterday, the Governor said very clearly that they are now seeing that. Now I'm getting the same feedback from businesses as well that they're moving because of the competition for labour force all around the country. When unemployment falls to these levels and the Reserve Bank yesterday was saying that they're revised outlook for unemployment is now down to 3.5 per cent. Now that's better than a 50-year low. And this shows I think the strength of where the Australian economy was at. It was only a few years ago when Jim Chalmers, the Labor Shadow Treasurer, was attacking the Government and saying it was an economic failure for rates to be falling. And now he's attacking the Government when the Reserve Bank has said that rates are returning to more normal levels. So you can't have it both ways. See the Labor Party is trying to calm the Australian people about what's happening in the economy. What's happening in the Australian economy and the global economy is real. You can't wish it away. You have to deal with the reality of these pressures. And after the 21st of May, our Government, or the alternative with Labor and the Greens and a cavalcade of independents will have to deal with exactly the same issues and exactly the same pressures. So the question to the Australian people is do you want to drop the shield of strong economic management that our Government has put in place that has protected Australians, Australian businesses, Australian retirees and pensioners through the pandemic and hand that over to a Labor Party and the Greens and a cavalcade of independents, which would mean further uncertainty in the most uncertain times we've seen for our economy, with so many moving parts in a very long time.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the New South Wales ICAC Commissioner has labelled anyone who refers to ICAC as a Kangaroo Court as buffoons. You've done that. Firstly your reaction to being called a buffoon. And secondly, is this why Josh Frydenberg has said that he would choose his words differently when describing ICAC to the way that you've described it?
PRIME MINISTER: I stand by what I've said about why I don't think that model is a good model for the federal jurisdiction. He can say whatever he likes. He can say whatever he likes. I'm not easily offended. I think you've learnt that about me. I'm quite resilient when it comes to those. He's free to disagree with me if he wishes. I just don't think that their model is the right model at a Federal level.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, do you take any responsibility for interest rates rising considering they are now predicted to rise by 2 per cent?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'd have to put the same question. I mean, let me read to you what Moody's Analytics have said. Incorrectly, they say, the most recent hike in the cash rate has already been politicised by the Labor Opposition as an indictment on the Coalition's economic management. This is not accurate. That's what Moody's Analytics says. May's rate hike is in response to the Australian economy being able to increasingly stand on its own after the unprecedented support that was offered during the pandemic. Now there was nothing, well I'm saying, there's nothing in the Reserve Bank Governor statement, there's nothing in the credible analysis that suggests that the rate rise yesterday had any, it was any response to government policy whatsoever. Whatsoever. I mean, the rate rise yesterday was a function of the Reserve Bank saying they didn't frankly, in the same way that we ended JobKeeper when we had to, that the Reserve Bank's emergency rates that they've had in place for some time as the Australian economy is strengthening and returning to normal, that they are relaxing those arrangements as well. So what Moody's has said, what the Reserve Bank Governor has said, is that Australia's economic policies have been working through the pandemic, have provided a shield to the Australian economy, which has enabled it to strengthen and come back again. And as a result, the emergency supports that we've had in place that have been supporting the economy, the economy is increasingly able to do that without those supports. And so that's the situation. Now, these pressures that I keep saying will continue as the Australian economy continues to strengthen and as the pressures from overseas, some of which are hopefully temporary when it comes to the war in Ukraine. But others which relate to global supply chains are very real and structural and ongoing. That's what has led the IMF to increase their estimates of global inflation to more than double just in the last 12 months. See the thing about the economy in the world today is it is very uncertain. No one has a crystal ball that can tell you every single thing that will happen and provide a guarantee around that. But what you can count on is whether the Government has a credible economic plan and has demonstrated through its own management the ability to shield Australia from the many negative impacts we've seen through this pandemic. And Australians have seen that. And that's why at this election they do have that choice about proven economic management against the risk and uncertainty of a Labor Party whose leader didn't even know what the unemployment rate was and the cash rate was just three weeks ago. You don't have to shout. You don't have to shout.
JOURNALIST: Can I ask you about the RBA? Are you disappointed that the Reserve Bank indicated rates would stay at those historic lows until 2024, misguiding many Australian people in their investment choices? And what does this mean for the nation's debt repayments, their interest repayments, as interest rates continue to go up, we're obviously already carrying a record rate of national debt. How much do you estimate that the nation's interest repayments will go up in terms of billions of dollars?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, a couple of things. Retaining our AAA credit rating means that those impacts will be limited. And because of the debt profile that we've been able to secure through our bond issuances, then Australia's management of those issues under our jurisdiction, I would say in the short to medium term will continue to be in the known. And so those matters haven't been recalculated since these most recent. But on our current level of debt is on current bond issuances and and those rates are fixed on those bond issuances. And as you go forward and you do further tranches of bond issuances, I mean, I was the Treasurer to do the first 30-year bond. We had 30 year bonds locking in those rates over 30 years and we did that smartly during the course of the pandemic and earlier when rates were really, really low. I mean, we've done the same thing as a government that Australians have been doing with their own household finances. We've been locking in lower rates while rates have been low with our own bond issuances. I was doing that as a Treasurer well before the pandemic hit and we've certainly been doing it over the course of the last few years. And because Australia's AAA credit rating is only one of nine countries to have it, that means when we go to the market to support our programs and when we did this in the middle of the pandemic, I can tell you on my dashboard that I would see every single day, particularly in those early phases of the pandemic, I was watching our issuances on bonds every single day and how many times coverage we were getting on those bonds, because that was essential to be able to do what we were doing on JobKeeper. Now we were getting many times coverage on those bonds every single day. And that said that the world's financial institutions knew strongly I had a strong economy, strong economic management, which would be able to see Australia through. Now that has been proven by the endorsement of our AAA credit rating, one of only nine countries to do so through the pandemic. So in answer to your question, Jono, economic management and strong financial credibility means that those borrowing costs are as low as you can as you can get them. Look on the RBA, no-one has a crystal ball, and everyone can be critical in hindsight. But in the last 12 months we have seen Russia invade Ukraine. And to think that that is not going to have an impact, particularly on energy prices and supply chains, and disrupt the global economy. Well, I think that would be unfair. And I don't think that would be realistic. I mean, circumstances change. Events change. That's what volatility and uncertainty means. And what I'm saying to the people of Australia is that uncertainty will continue. It will continue past the 21st of May. I mean, the waters will remain choppy globally and the headwinds will still be there. And what you will need is a government that knows how to handle this, that has been through the testing times of these last three years and has brought the Australian economy through. Now is not the time to risk Labor, who over three years still do not have an economic plan and a Labor leader that doesn't even know what's going on in the economy and couldn't tell you what the cash rate or the unemployment rate even was three weeks ago. It's not that he just got it wrong, he didn't know.
JOURNALIST: [inaudible] to increasing hospital funding -
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry?
JOURNALIST: Would you commit to increasing health care and hospital funding in South Australia in order to hold onto this marginal seat of Boothby? Given the recent successful campaign run by State Labor, Peter Malinauskas, on hospital and ambulance ramping?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what we have done over the course of the pandemic is we've done, we funded 50/50 hospitals here in South Australia and right across the country for all of their COVID-related expenses and that continues out until the end of September where it will be considered again. We also struck an agreement with all states and territories, Labor and Liberal, about our health reform agreement that takes us well out for many years yet. And we struck that agreement and we've honoured it. And what that means is, is that our increase in investment in public hospitals across the country outstrips, outstrips state government expenditure increases in public hospitals every single year. So we are we are increasing our investment and particularly over the next few years, we're increasing it by another $5 billion of further investment in public hospitals right across the country. What I'd like the state governments to do is use it wisely and run better hospital systems. Yes, yes, yeah. Okay. Okay.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, 18 women at least this year have died due to domestic violence. The National Women's Safety Alliance today has been calling for a number of things, including a significant increase to social housing, specifically for domestic violence victims. Is that something you would consider? And secondly, your Assistant Minister for Women, Amanda Stoker, was recently at an anti-abortion rally. Given we're having what's been described as a national domestic crisis violence. Why is that what your MPs are focussing on? And do you agree with her views on abortion?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, on the latter matter, there is no changed policy on that issue. I'm aware of the reports that are coming out of the United States, but that's in a different country. And in Australia, there are no changes to those laws. So I don't see it really as an issue here in Australia -
JOURNALIST: But why is your Assistant Minister -
PRIME MINISTER: Well people are -
JOURNALIST: ...at an anti-abortion rally then?
JOURNALIST: Well, it's a free country. It's a free country. But on the issue of domestic violence, it has been our Government that has put in place record investments in dealing with exactly as you say. I think it's one every 11 days women are killed by someone they know, a partner. And this is an horrendous, an horrendous statistic. And it's real. And that's why under our National Plan, we're the ones who have invested over over $2 billion, including specifically on the issues of accommodation to support women fleeing domestic violence. That has been a big part of our plan. And I'll ask Anne to speak more of it, because she's the Minister for Women's Security. And we have been investing and listening very carefully to those voices about how we can ensure that women in those situations can get access to the accommodation, particularly emergency accommodation they need. Now, it's a partnership, of course, with state governments and state governments invest in this as well and will continue to under the National Action Plan. But that National Action Plan, which has been running since the Gillard Government, which we have actually invested in far more than when it was first established under Labor, because we believe in it. We absolutely believe in it and we've stepped up financially and the reason we can do that is because of our economic management, which enables us to invest in these services. But Anne, did you want to speak to that?
MINISTER RUSTON: Look, thank you very much. And today we do recognise the women of Australia who have died at the hands of an intimate partner. As you rightly point out, this is a completely unacceptable statistic in a first world country like Australia that we continue to wake up to news stories of another woman who has been killed in a gender-based violence situation. But as the Government, I think no government has done more to support women who face family, domestic and sexual violence than this Government. The next National Plan to End Violence Against Women and their Children, a $2.5 billion commitment over the first five years of the First Action Plan. A commitment to support Indigenous Australians with their own dedicated Action Plan is currently being worked on and prepared by a group of leading Indigenous women to make sure that we are addressing the unique circumstances that they find themselves in and the unique challenges for their communities. But we simply must address the core of gender-based violence, which is disrespect. And that is why this Government has made major, major investments and commitments not just to responding to domestic violence and supporting those people when they find themselves the victims of domestic violence. But making sure that we put things in place to prevent the domestic violence from happening in the first place, because unless we can stop domestic violence, we will never end domestic violence. And we have a plan, a very, very strong plan, a plan that has been enabled, obviously, by a very strong economy that has enabled us to put $2.5 billion against the first five year plan to address all of the things that make optimistic family and sexual violence in this country, whether it be prevention, early intervention response, and of course, that very important component to the recovery. So that we can help people who are victims through that journey of dealing with trauma, getting themselves self-sufficient, getting themselves back on their feet and becoming financially capable. No government has done more to support Australia's women. But today we recognise so many women whose lives have been cut short, so many children have lost their mothers and some children that have lost their lives. And I commend Hayley Foster for what she's done in supporting and making sure that this issue is front of mind for every Australian. Because unless every Australian accepts their responsibility to end gender-based violence, we will never end it. And so today, I thank Hayley for bringing this to everyone's attention.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, who will your Education Minister be if you're re-elected on May 21st?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I've already said it's Alan Tudge.
JOURNALIST: Would you ask him to take that role if it happens?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, if he's prepared, if he's available to come back into the Ministry, then he will.
JOURNALIST: What do you mean if he's available?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, he stood aside. He decided to stand aside for his own personal reasons. And should he be in a position to be able to step up again, then I would welcome him back.
JOURNALIST: Has he expressed interest in doing so?
PRIME MINISTER: I haven't spoken to him recently, but that would be my expectation.
JOURNALIST: Will you be heading to Aston?
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry?
JOURNALIST: To support his campaign?
PRIME MINISTER: He doesn't need my help there, he's done a fantastic job in Aston.
JOURNALIST: He's a member of your Cabinet. Will he joining you on your campaign?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, he's campaigning in Aston, because he's the Member for Aston.
JOURNALIST: [inaudible] Dave Sharma?
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry?
JOURNALIST: Will you be campaigning with Dave Sharma?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, my Mum lives in Wentworth, so I go and see her all the time.
JOURNALIST: Campaigning.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, I think what we're trying to clarify here is, will you be travelling to any of the seats where teal Independents are against your Liberal moderates? Will you be sealing those seats and can we get a clear answer from you on this? Because it's been a question you've been asked a number of times now.
PRIME MINISTER: I will go where I believe it's best for our campaign for me to go, and I will flag where I go on the day where I go, you know, you're on the bus. You know that you find out where we go each day, just like that works in the Labor campaign. So I'm not going to be telecasting where I'm going each day. That's not something that we do in campaigns and you know that to be the case.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, have you spoken to President Sogavare since you suggested that he was merely parroting Beijing's lines? And given that war of words, how can Australians trust you to rebuild that relationship amid such a critical national security issue?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I've had no discussions with him since the Election was called and since he's made those comments. And I'll be looking forward to the opportunity on the other side of the election to continue to manage that relationship positively. We are Solomon Islands primary security partner. That is something that the Prime Minister has conveyed to me again and that is what remains the case. And so we have a strong relationship with the with the [inaudible]. Well, they weren't, they weren't my beliefs.
JOURNALIST: Suggesting that -
PRIME MINISTER: No, no, that that was others' commentary. They were not my words.
JOURNALIST: You said they were the same lines from Beijing.
PRIME MINISTER: I said there was a remarkable similarity.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, do you have evidence claiming that interest rates would be lower if you're re-elected? And with debt nearing $1 trillion, deficits as far as the eye can see, inflation and now interest rates putting a squeeze on household budgets, how can you credibly claim to be a better economic manager than anyone?
PRIME MINISTER: Because unemployment is at four per cent and falling, because our AAA credit rating has been maintained through the one of the worst economic crisis that we've seen since the Great Depression, because there are more people in work and in fact 400,000 more in work after the pandemic than they were before, because our rate of growth in Australia is stronger than we've seen in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada -
JOURNALIST: But life's gotten harder on your watch, hasn't it?
PRIME MINISTER: ... all of these things. Australia's economic performance during the pandemic has been the strongest and most advanced economies in the world.
JOURNALIST: Is life harder now, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: What's what's real is the pressures on the Australian economy. And we are simply saying is this, is those pressures will continue. And my argument is based on our proven performance and our strong economic plans, that our Government will be better able to shield Australians, whether they be self-funded retirees here and their access to pensions, or they're the Australians who are working, ensuring they have lower taxes and ensure that they have sensible housing policies like our home guarantee and many others that have seen 300,000 Australians get into their own home over the last three years. What I'm saying is that our economic policies are going to more strongly shield Australians from these uncertain times and the economic pressures that they are facing, whether they be on interest rates or cost of living. I'm also going to be upfront with Australians about the pressure they're facing. I'm not going to tell them a fairy tale like the Labor Party is, that somehow how you vote on that day is going to make international pressures just vanish. That is that is a statement which portrays either a complete lack of understanding of the Australian economy or just political cynicism taken to a whole other level by the Labor Party. I understand the pressures that the Australian economy is under. I've been managing together with Josh Frydenberg and Simon Birmingham and my whole Cabinet for the last three and a half years, and that has ensured that Australia is in a stronger position today than it otherwise would have been. JobKeeper 700,000 jobs saved. The cash flow boost, which got thousands upon thousands of small businesses through, who know that, and who understand that, and understand that their businesses would not be around today. 220,000 apprentices that we could have lost over the course of the pandemic, finishing their training, in training today, the highest level we've seen since 1963. Now Australians understand that these times have been tough and the challenges have been significant and they also understand that that is going to continue in the years ahead. So there's a choice. You can choose a government that has had an effective shield against these incredible pressures on the Australian economy through a pandemic and a global recession. Or you can choose a Labor Party that still does not have an economic plan and are unproven and would be a great risk to the economic wellbeing of our country.
