TREASURER:
Well, it has been an extremely productive couple of days here in London. I have met with a large number of potential investors in Australian infrastructure and importantly have also met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Shadow Chancellor as well. We had very productive discussions with Governor Carney at the Bank of England and there is an overwhelming message – the world is determined to focus on opportunities for growth, and Australia is leading the charge in relation to infrastructure initiatives that not only will grow opportunities for Australians in Australia, but there will be opportunities for Australia to contribute to infrastructure investment right around the world. So, despite doom and gloom in mainland Europe I remain optimistic about the global economy and I remain certainly optimistic about the Australian economy.
REPORTER:
Treasurer, the shirt-front comment has been described [inaudible] as very unfortunate [inaudible] also has said the comments were immature. Do you think the comments were badly chosen, those words?
TREASURER:
Look, I think fundamentally there is deep-seated anger across the Australian community about what happened to the 38 poor souls, who were Australians, who died on the Malaysian plane in Ukraine and I think the Prime Minister is reflecting the anger and understandable emotion of many Australians about what happened.
REPORTER:
Are they words you would have used Treasurer?
TREASURER:
I’m not going to get into commentary on words.
REPORTER:
Do you think those comments will derail any of your plans to set up [inaudible]?
TREASURER:
No, I think it is hugely important that there be proper dialogue and we should see Mr Putin’s attendance in Brisbane as an opportunity to convey the depth of anger in Australia about the events in Ukraine, but also to help to find ways to get justice for families that lost loved ones.
REPORTER:
In the conversations you’ve had over the last couple of days, how do the Brits feel about Mr Putin attending?
TREASURER:
Well, certainly the view of G20 Ministers was that everyone should attend in Brisbane. It is important to keep the dialogue open. There is no doubt that sanctions are having an impact both ways. Russian sanctions are having an impact on Europe and European and American and Australian sanctions are having an impact on Russia. So, if there is a way through on the challenge in Ukraine (inaudible) hopefully that way through can be identified either before Brisbane or at Brisbane.
REPORTER:
Mr Hockey, we’ve seen today that the Blair’s house has been targeted by terrorist attacks. Are you, or anybody in Australia, worried about your own personal safety and have you increased security around yourself in light of these threats.
TREASURER:
Well, for that very reason we don’t talk about our own level of security but I’m absolutely confident that the Australian Government has the appropriate security arrangements in place for Ministers and if there is any need to upgrade it then I’m sure we will be advised accordingly.
REPORTER:
Just back to the Putin issue very briefly, there does seems to be a bit of confusion about whether Mr Putin has actually been confirmed to attend, what was your understanding?
TREASURER:
Look, I only repeated what the Finance Minister of Russia advised me that he expected Mr Putin would attend the Leader’s meeting in Brisbane in November and there will be a number of international meetings before that where he may have the opportunity to attend. Look, I can’t add any more than that, other than what I was advised.
REPORTER:
In your discussions with people today Treasurer, has there been any advice given to you about the Budget?
TREASURER:
Well, stay the course. That was the clear message from George Osborne – if you do the right thing, as we did the right thing as in the Budget, stay the course. Stay the course, because you need to have consistent and predictable policy and at the end of the day, as things improve, it will come directly as a result of the decisions you’ve made in your Budgets. Now, I have no doubt following consultations with George Osborne and other Finance Ministers in the G20, but also having consultations with major investors in Australia, that they know that we need to undertake the reforms we announced in the Budget, and they know that the dividend of a stronger and more prosperous Australia and more jobs and better paid jobs will come as a result of our Budget.
REPORTER:
Do you regret linking Australia’s not supporting your Budget reforms with National Security?
TREASURER:
Look we’ve dealt with that.
REPORTER:
Is it really absolutely ridiculous to suggest that Australia is not one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gas in the OECD?
TREASURER:
Let me say this: If anyone suggests that Australia is the dirtiest nation on earth I will reject it, and reject it with all the force I can muster because that is just an absolutely wrong assertion, we are not the dirtiest nation on earth, we are a great nation and I will defend our interests from one end of the earth to the other in that regard.
REPORTER:
I think they were arguing [inaudible] perhaps morally rather than [inaudible].
TREASURER:
Well, I stand by my comments. For anyone to suggest that Australia is – in their words – the dirtiest nation on earth is an affront to our nation. And wherever it is, any part of the world, I will stand up for Australia and defend its interests.