CANBERRA, ACT, Sept. 28 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release:
JESS TEESDALE, MEMBER FOR BASS: Welcome everybody to the ground here at UTAS Stadium. We're so excited once again to have our amazing PM back in Launceston. I'm joined by Premier Jeremy Rockliff, and also our Minister for Infrastructure who is critical to what has been happening here at UTAS Stadium over the past 12 months. Now, we can see behind us the stand which will have so many thousands of loving, cheering fans coming out as often as possible, particularly when the Tasmanian Devils do get started very soon. What I really love seeing and what I did point out on our walk out around here is how good the accessible seating is going to be. We didn't have enough of this previously, and now we can have people who can sit really close, with their family, with their friends. Such an asset to this already impeccable ground. We know that this is one of the best regional grounds in the country, and the work that we're doing here is making sure that will continue to be the case.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks so much, Jess, and thank you for the work that you do as the Member for Bass. I'm joined by most members of my team. We've got Catherine King here and we've got Anne Urquhart, the formidable Member for Braddon. We've got Senator Helen Polley and Senator Tammy Tyrrell, and we're joined by Jeremy Rockliff, the Premier of Tasmania, and members of his team as well. This is a great partnership between the Australian Government and the Tasmanian Government to improve amenity and improve the economy for Tasmanians. What we're going to see at this wonderful ground is people come to watch the Tasmanian Devils, to watch the footy, but also to watch bands and to watch other activities as well. So, whether it's the Fooeys or the footy, it's going to be a fantastic place to be. It will grow to seat some 17,500 fans, and they're right up close. It will be such an enormous experience.
And I've got to say, just as this has been a fortress for my team, the Hawks, for a long period of time, I'm sure it will become a fortress for the Tasmanian Devils as well. But importantly as well, what it will do is be a drawcard to this beautiful city, on this glorious day here in Launceston. Because people who come to Launceston for the footy as well, don't just come for the day. Well, I know that when we did, back in the Rudd Labor Government, when I was the Infrastructure Minister, we funded the first upgrade of what was then Aurora. And at that time, we did some research that showed the average stay was around about four days. So, a lot of people come to Tasmania, they'll watch the footy, they'll stay for a period of time, for a week or two weeks, and they'll come back as well because Tasmania has so much to offer. And this great regional city of Launceston of course is very special, with The Gorge, with everything else that it has to offer. The wineries close by, fantastic food, fantastic people as well. It's a very friendly place. And the jobs that we've created, there's over 500 construction jobs that have been created in this project. But what will happen over a period of time is many, many thousands of jobs as a direct result of this joint investment partnering with the Tasmanian Government.
JEREMY ROCKLIFF, PREMIER OF TASMANIA: Well, thank you Prime Minister and local member, Jess. To the PM's federal team, our team, Nick Duigan, Minister for Sport, Jo Palmer for Education, James from Stadiums Tas. There are many people very excited about this announcement today and what is a fantastic legacy project for this city. Just over three and a half years ago, the Prime Minister and I were standing on this ground announcing a $130 million upgrade for this facility to bring it in to the next century, if you like. A modern facility capable of modern AFL standards. And here we are celebrating a significant milestone today. I'd not be wearing this scarf today, the Tassie Devils scarf, if it wasn't for the very strong collaboration between the federal and state government when it comes to infrastructure such as today and indeed the Macquarie Point investment as well. So, thank you Prime Minister for that.
And I'm wearing this Devils scarf and these announcements are significant, because when we made this announcement there were around 17,000 participants in AFL around three years ago. There was a target set for 28,000, which we have already exceeded in 2026. And that target was for 2028. And so, the enthusiasm that infrastructure investments such as this, bringing our own Tassie Devils team to Tasmania, has been magnificently felt right throughout every corner of Tasmania, not just the major centres. And it's about that participation, our young kids being enthusiastic, aspirational, young boys and girls, men and women embracing the opportunity of playing for the Devils one day or getting really excited about participating in their local footy team as well. That's what it's all about, young people putting down the mobile phone, picking up the footy and they've embraced that opportunity.
Can I thank everyone for bringing us to this point. It's been an extraordinary example of great collaboration. This new facility, this milestone project today is significant. As Jess said, we've doubled the accessible seating for this particular ground, this area, which is fantastic. And everyone has that fundamental right to not only enjoy the footy, enjoy their sport, which this is a wonderful arena for, but also the entertainment as well. The PM mentioned the Fooeys, of course. I'm sure there'll be other great concerts here as well where people can be well and truly accommodated and safely so. So, thank you very much for this partnership, PM. And can I say thank you to the tradies that are still building it. It's great. They're so enthusiastic. We've met some of them before. And when it comes to these types of projects, when it comes to the Tassie Devils, it's not just the players that this is a legacy project for.
It's actually the people that have come along the journey and the way, the people that pick up the tools, that build the new stands, that prepare the grounds, that do all the work from every area of opportunity that a new Tassie footy team will bring. But infrastructure such as this, as I say, is more than just about footy, more than just about sport. It's about entertainment. It's about bringing people along in Northern Tasmania. And thanks for speaking so warmly about this region, Prime Minister. We're very proud of the fact we're globally renowned, when it comes to Northern Tasmania, for our food and wine culture, which is great. We've got enormous opportunity. It wouldn't have escaped you, PM, there's cranes in the sky for the new Fragrance Hotel as well, which is fantastic. The Princess Theatre's being upgraded. We've got irrigation infrastructure that is coming online in Northern Tasmania. I was with Lyons member Rebecca White just a few days ago celebrating that milestone as well. And so there's a lot of opportunity here across the North. This is part of it, but I have to say a significant part of it and I commend everyone that's been involved. Thank you very much.
JAMES AVERY, STADIUMS TASMANIA CEO :Thank you, Premier. This is a significant milestone in the progress of the project, to be able to have this many seats come online. And the increased accessibility seating that we've already heard about is a really significant step for future development of this project and this stadium. These upgrades not only ensure the Devils have somewhere to play successfully from 2028 onwards, but it ensures that we can attract a whole range of other events to Tasmania and to Launceston in particular. You would've seen the successful staging of the Foo Fighters earlier this year. Stadiums Tasmania continues to be in discussions with a whole range of content providers, specifically off the back of this project. So, we thank the federal and the state governments for their foresight and investment in this project as we continue to move through more milestones, but this is certainly one of the most significant for the project.
JOURNALIST:PM, we're obviously in Launceston. But the estimated price of the Hobart stadium keeps rising. If the Premier came to you and asked for a larger federal contribution, what would the answer be?
PRIME MINISTER:Our contribution is fixed. And we've made a contribution to the north here as well as to the south, as well as the additional funding we're giving for a range of things including health and hospital funding here, additional funding for the hospital, additional funding for the eight Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, Free TAFE, we've made a contribution. And I think when it comes to the Macquarie Point development, it's really important to remember that this is an urban development project. It will lead to increased retail, hospitality venues, housing, as well as the stadium. That will really do for Hobart what this venue will do for Launceston going forward.
JOURNALIST: The Hawks will have I suppose their last games here in 2027. Do you think that it's a kind of missed chance to, I suppose, not have Devils games and Hawks games going forward? And I guess, did the Hawks call ever reach your desk?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm a Hawthorn fan. Have been so since I was a lad, when it was the VFL. When Sydney and GWS - when Sydney was South Melbourne and GWS was just someone's idea, decades down the track. So, you can't change teams. So, I didn't change teams. Look, I think Hawthorn have such a fantastic record here. They've made an amazing contribution. That's a decision essentially for the AFL and for the Tasmanian Government. It's not a Commonwealth decision. Personally, I love seeing Hawthorn play here, and I wish they could continue to play here for a long period of time. But I'm sure that one of the things that will happen is that Tasmanians will get behind the Devils, and this is something that has been asked for a long period of time. I was a big supporter of Tasmania getting an AFL team, because as the Premier has said, we want to get kids off their devices and onto the footy fields or onto the netball courts or the swimming pools. Doesn't matter what it is. We want people to learn as well through team sport because what team sport does is it teaches young Australians to win, to lose, teaches them the value of teamwork. It is so important. So, I think the Tasmanian Devils will be really successful. Tasmania, of course, going back to Peter Hudson and others, have had some handy players produced in this great state over the years. That is still continuing, and I wish the Tassie Devils every success. I'll be cheering for them, except for when they're playing Hawthorn.
JOURNALIST: There's a lot of pressure on Tasmania's budget, including the health budget, where the government wants to find $700 million worth of savings. Similar question, would your government be willing to help if it meant protecting services?
PRIME MINISTER: We have our Budget. We don't run the Tasmanian health system, to be clear. We have made a major contribution, indeed, the Health and Hospitals Agreement, where Premier Rockliff was part of the National Cabinet decisions, but was always constructive - but always also standing up for Tasmania, as I would expect him to do. We got an additional $25 billion into the Health and Hospitals Agreement. That's on top of the funding for Launceston Hospital, the eight Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, the endo clinic that is in, I think it's in Glenorchy. The Medicare Mental Health Clinics. All of this investment is on top of that. The tripling of the bulk billing incentive. I've been with Jess - you'll remind me what suburb we were in.
TEESDALE: Newstead.
PRIME MINISTER: In Newstead, at a facility there that is now fully bulk-billed as a direct result of the investment. Now, Commonwealth's responsible, of course, for primary healthcare, and that investment has made an enormous difference here in Tasmania.
JOURNALIST: I've noticed over the past year or so, when it comes to health issues in Tasmania, our Tasmanian government representatives essentially come for more resources from the Commonwealth. And then we have the Commonwealth saying, we're at the end of what we can pass along or offer more money. How does that help people who are waiting in hospitals for hours, or ambulances that are waiting to transfer their patients?
PRIME MINISTER: We don't run the Tasmanian health system, we do provide significant support. Indeed, an additional $700 million into Tasmanian hospitals. There are now 72 clinics in Tasmania that are bulk-billing. Previously, there were 26. So, from 26 up to 72, as a direct result of the investment that we've put in. Bulk billing rate in Tasmania is now 80.8 per cent, it was 66 per cent previously. Four Medicare Mental Health Centres, three Medicare Mental Health Kids' Hubs, including in East Tamar. The Medicare Mental Health Centre, there's one here in Launceston. And one more Perinatal Mental Health Centre will be delivered in Devonport by 2028. We're investing, and so, state governments will always ask for more. But we have three tiers in Australia. If you were designing Australia again, you might design it differently. But we have three levels of government, and the Commonwealth is certainly fulfilling, more than fulfilling, our responsibility.
JOURNALIST: Have you and the Premier had any discussions today about the health issues in Tasmania?
PRIME MINISTER: I've been here for like five minutes, and I've been with you. So -
JOURNALIST. Will the Federal Government financially support Bell Bay Aluminium?
PRIME MINISTER: When it comes to Bell Bay Aluminium, we're working cooperatively with the Tasmanian Government. The Premier and I had a discussion yesterday. My Minister, Tim Ayres, is here today. Bell Bay Aluminium is an important facility. We want it to be able to continue, and we'll work constructively with the company and with the Tasmanian Government.
JOURNALIST: We've heard talks being described as being at a stalemate. How would you describe your current negotiation status
PRIME MINISTER: As ongoing.
JOURNALIST: A new report shows Tasmanian home buyers will be hit the hardest in tomorrow's expected RBA rate rise. With our average wage as the lowest, what more is the Government doing to help Tasmanians get into home ownership?
PRIME MINISTER: We have our 5 per cent deposits, of which 270,000 Australians have benefited from that. That's made an enormous difference. We are funding, through our Housing Australia Future Fund social housing. And I've visited sites including here in Launceston, where it has made an enormous difference. We have our Build to Rent scheme, which is aimed at private rentals in the market. And we have our Help to Buy scheme, that's a shared equity scheme. That's been very successful as well. That enables people to get into housing and over a period of time, if they're in a position in the future, they can then buy out the share that is not theirs of those homes. All of those measures are aimed at getting more people into housing. Also, supply. We are making a concentration on supply of housing, because we know that that is the key.
JOURNALIST: Do you have any updates on the OpenAI breaches and if any extra security measures been taken in the meantime time while the review is underway?
PRIME MINISTER: We had a meeting this morning. I was in Canberra and was briefed by the Secretary of my Department, Steven Kennedy. We've established, it's already underway, the work of the taskforce. We want to complete that work as soon as possible. You'd be aware now that the OpenAI issue of an agent gaining unauthorised access to material. It's important to note, as I did when we made the announcement, that this doesn't relate to people's personal data. So, what is at risk here isn't what was obtained, it's the way that it was obtained. Which has now been, as you would be aware, there have since our announcement - there were then subsequent announcements about access to government websites in all sorts of in other places, including US government sites as well. So, it's important that as we continue to say, artificial intelligence can make an enormous difference. It can boost productivity, it can boost economic growth, it can give us health breakthroughs. But we need to make sure that human beings are in charge of this.
JOURNALIST: Last week, Richard Marles said the OpenAI agent's interactions with the Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing website were normal, but it now looks like bots tried multiple tactics for almost a week to access data on that site. They were unsuccessful. Are you concerned by that and is the Government looking into it?
PRIME MINISTER: It's all part of the review. That's what we're doing.
JOURNALIST: What's your message to mortgage owners who are about to be slugged with another rate rise?
PRIME MINISTER: Global inflation is an issue and we know that that's the case. We know some people are doing it tough. And that's why we're taking action to provide cost of living support. That's why we supported a tax cut that came in on 1 July. That's why we're supporting Free TAFE. That's why the initiatives in health, including the Urgent Care Clinics, expanding free access to Medicare by expanding bulk billing is all aimed at making a difference. Because we know people are doing it tough and we'll continue to as well to take work such as the $6 billion reduction in the deficit compared with what was anticipated in our May budget.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
