KIRSTEN PILATTI:
Welcome everyone, my name is Kirsten Pilatti. I’m the CEO of Breast Cancer Network Australia and it is fabulous to welcome the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to our office here in Hawthorn. The Treasurer has been a wonderful supporter for BCNA in our local community for a very long time and we look forward to continuing to work with you. BCNA was one of the very many not-for-profit organisations who received JobKeeper and we came off that on December 31. It is because of JobKeeper that we could keep our services open for all of those women and men who were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 and we want to thank you Treasurer for that. There was so much uncertainty in the Australian population last year but add the layer of a breast cancer diagnosis on top of that, we are so proud that we could continue to take the phone calls through our helpline and be a real source of truth for all Australian women and men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. But not just for them, for their families and friends. So we want to thank you very much for your support. It really did make an enormous difference particularly when we lost around 25 per cent of our income immediately because of COVID-19. Thank you and it’s great to have you here in our office today.
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Thank you Kirsten. Well it’s a great pleasure to be here at the BCNA in my own electorate with Kirsten and with her wonderfully committed staff. This is a tremendous organisation, an organisation with hundreds, indeed thousands of volunteers and supporters as well as their dedicated staff. During Covid, JobKeeper came to the rescue, like it did for so many other not-for-profits across the community. 35 staff were supported by JobKeeper. Talking to the staff, they worked from home, even as the lockdown continued and they didn’t miss one of the 13,000 calls that were received last year from mothers, from wives, from sisters, from daughters, from husbands indeed from people across the community who just wanted some advice or more information to help them navigate through a difficult time. JobKeeper supported not just small businesses and larger businesses but also an enormous number of not-for-profits across the community. Nearly $8 billion in phase 1 of JobKeeper went to the not-for-profit sector, more than 10 per cent of payments went to the not-for-profit sector. It was an enormous commitment by the Morrison Government to support these organisations. Now JobKeeper is coming to an end today, having met its objectives of saving lives and saving livelihoods. It’s been a remarkable program. When we first announced it on the 30th March last year Australia was staring into an economic abyss. Treasury feared unemployment reaching as high as 15 per cent, that’s more than two million of our fellow Australians who would have been unemployed. They also feared a more than 20 per cent fall in economic growth. We all remember those really confronting images of tens of thousands of our fellow Australians lining up outside Centrelink having lost their jobs and indeed there were hundreds of thousands more Australians who were actually fearful of their own job security. JobKeeper came to the rescue, it was an economic lifeline when Australia needed it most. 3.8 million Australians were supported by JobKeeper at its peak and around a million businesses and many not-for-profits. Now the vast majority of recipients of JobKeeper have graduated. 2.8 million have graduated and more than 650,000 businesses have graduated off JobKeeper. But it continue to be tough for many across the sector and across the regions in Australia. So as JobKeeper comes to an end the Morrison Government’s economic support continues. We have introduced a number of targeted programs, recently a tourism and aviation package of $1.2 billion to get more planes in the air and more tourists on the ground. As well as cheap loans, up to 2 years of repayment free loans that could go and support a business that backs itself to get to the other side of this pandemic. Last week we announced a new package of support for the arts and entertainment sector with $135 million in grants as well as support for those who are in particular financial hardship. We have the broader economic support measures that are going to help boost the economy to get to the other side of this pandemic including the tax cuts, infrastructure spending, more than 300,000 new training places as well as very significant support for businesses to invest in machinery equipment and other things that will help keep their business growing into the future. We know that Australians have also accumulated some $240 billion on their balance sheets, both household balance sheets and business balance sheets that was not there this time last year. That’s money that will continue to be spent across the economy supporting jobs and creating new jobs. So Kirsten it’s a real pleasure to be here with you. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Australia has performed on both the health and economic front better than any other country around the world. The real heroes are those on the frontline who have provided the health support to people who needed it most, but as well as people in workplaces right around the country including here at the BCNA, where they’ve provided valuable support to the people who needed it even when the state and indeed parts of the country were in lockdown. So thank you very much. Are there any questions in relation to JobKeeper matters because then I’ll ask Kirsten to leave after that if there are other matter?
JOURNALIST:
You’ve called JobKeeper a lifeline and indeed it was, but now that’s it’s set to come to an end are you expecting a wave of business insolvencies particularly for small and medium firms?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well there’s no doubt there will be some businesses that continue to do it tough once JobKeeper ends but as a program it was always a temporary one, it was always an emergency support program, indeed we heard from the Treasury secretary just last week to the Parliament that JobKeeper needs to end because the program has some characteristics in it that would have some adverse consequences for the economy if it was left in place as the economy strengthens. In particular hampering mobility of workers to other roles across the economy. But our support continues, our support through targeted programs like the tourism and aviation program, like the arts program like the cheap loans that are available more broadly across the economy and we’ll continue in this year’s Budget to make further announcements that support economic activity. As a program it has to come to an end but our other supports continue across the economy. The other thing to say is the labor market has proven to be a lot more resilient than even our most optimistic forecasts from the Reserve Bank and from Treasury. As I said, there was at one point Treasury feared unemployment to reach as high as 15 per cent, today it’s a 5.8 per cent.
JOURNALIST:
Those programs though, there’s going to hundreds of thousands of people predicted that could lose their jobs, as a result of JobKeeper ending. They might not have the money to tap into a tourism program or those initiatives that you’ve taken on. What do you say to those people watching tonight who are on the cusp of losing their jobs when this ends?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well there are a lot of people and a lot of sectors across the economy and regions that are continuing to do it tough. Just as the Morrison Government had their back at the start of the crisis, through this crisis, we will have their back right to the end of this crisis…
JOURNALIST:
In what way though?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well the economic support that we’re providing is going to help boost economic activity and more economic activity means more people walking through the shopfront door, it means more people buying a motor vehicle or building a home, it means more people jumping on a plane for a holiday. All of those activities help generate jobs in related sectors across the economy. Take tourism for example. I was recently in Cairns. Cairns is one of those areas that’s been hit hard by the international border closures and the domestic border closures. The support that we’re providing with the half price airfares into Cairns will see more tourist go into those areas. With tourism as well, Alan Joyce said to me that in the month of January he cancelled 1500 flights into Queensland alone. That’s flights into Hamilton Island, that’s flights in Maroochydore, that’s flights into Brisbane, that’s flights into the Gold Coast because of those border closures. With the vaccine rollout, which is going to really help the economic recovery as well, I think you’ll see a lot more certainty and a lot more stability and hopefully we can avoid some of those snap border closures which end up costing jobs. So I’m optimistic about Australia’s economic future. We’ve certainly as a country outperformed other nations around the world but there is a long way to go.
JOURNALIST:
With respect though optimism is great but it’s not direct money in someone’s pocket is it. We can’t guarantee those 150 or 200 000 people are going to have money coming in to put food on the table?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
There is a lot of support, money that is flowing now everyday into the pockets of households and into the balance sheets of businesses to drive economic activity to create those very jobs that you’re talking about. Even with the end of JobKeeper, it is Treasury’s advice and the Reserve Bank of Australia’s analysis that the unemployment rate will continue to trend down over time. You see we can’t keep spending borrowed money forever. This is a program which was always temporary, it was initially for six months, we extended it for another six months, it has to come to an end but there are other programs that are in place. Any other questions on JobKeeper? Other questions on other matters?
JOURNALIST:
Are you aware of the new listings to the PBS today? I know it might not necessarily…
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Kirsten was just mentioning, just talking about taking a call from Lyn Swinburne, the founder of BCNA about that new listing.
JOURNALIST:
Thank you Kirsten before we let you go there are new listings to the PBS today, how are they going to change survival rates for breast cancer?
KIRSTEN PILATTI:
BCNA is so grateful that yet again we have a new listing for women and men living with metastatic disease. We estimate that this will reduce the cost for an individual buy more than $50,000 to have access to the very best treatment, what we don’t want is a two tiered healthcare system where the people with money get access and people without don’t. This today is just another step forward and we’re very, very happy. This is a drug we’ve been trying to get onto the PBS for a long time that we’ve got success today because that means that women and men, from breast cancer, will be able to have the very best treatment every time.
JOURNALIST:
Does it have the potential to save lives as well?
KIRSTEN PILATTI:
This particular drug is for women and men living with metastatic disease so it is a terminal illness for them but we know that it will give them months and in fact years to be there for their family weddings and other celebrations so it’s a really great day for women and men across Australia.
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Can I just add to that, the PBS is a national treasure. We have been listing the drugs that been advised to us to list without fail. When we talk about having a strong economy that is not an end in itself, it’s a means to an end and that end is to provide the support to those who need it most across the community. So our ability to list drugs on the PBS or to provide the health and education funding or indeed to respond to a pandemic with an unprecedented $251 billion of economic support is only made possible because we have a strong economy and so that’s a direct result of that.
JOURNALIST:
Andrew Laming, I don’t know if you saw what came about last night with him appearing to make light of the situation [inaudible] is now in via social media. The Morrison Government must be extremely concerned about his position now and would you think it’s time for him to resign?
FRYDENBERG:
Well the Prime Minister spoke to Andrew yesterday and made it very clear what was expected of our MPs and Andrew has reflected on that conversation with the Prime Minister and following that conversation with the Prime Minister he has decided not to recontest the next election.
JOURNALIST:
This is going to put your Government in a very tricky situation is it not?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well Andrew is not recontesting the next election so the LNP will find a new candidate and that will be up to the preselectors. Andrew is also taking some time to seek some additional support, that is important given his behaviour has been unacceptable.
JOURNALIST:
Should he be kicked out of Parliament now?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
No. He was elected by the representatives and the constituents of his community to support them in the Parliament, to effect policies that advance their interests. That is what the Coalition does. He’s going to take some time to have this additional support and various sessions that he’s going to be engaged in and then he will return to the Parliament in the Budget week.
JOURNALIST:
Is he a fit and proper person to be an MP?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
I understand he is, that’s my view and as for him sitting into the LNP or Coalition party room, that will be a decision for the LNP itself. But I think he’s taken the proper course of action here, to seek that counselling and obviously following that conversation with the Prime Minister, not to stand again at the next election.
JOURNALIST:
Treasurer, you say it’s your view he is a fit and proper person, what it’s documented that he has done to women, including the photograph, would prove to half of the voting population he is not a fit and proper person to be an MP. And he’s made light of it now.
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well, his behaviour has been absolutely unacceptable…
JOURNALIST:
So how is he fit and proper, then?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Because he continues to serve his constituents in the parliament. No doubt there will be others who hold a different view, but his decision not to recontest the next election means the voters in his electorate get an opportunity to have a fresh start with a new LNP candidate.
JOURNALIST:
Treasurer, would you support moves to limit sitting and drinking hours to improve culture at Parliament House, as suggested by several Liberal backbenchers this morning?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
These are all issues that should be on the table and these are issues that the Jenkins review, which reaches across the political divide, will no doubt canvass and will make recommendations. The Parliament is an unusual working place. It has long hours, it’s particularly intense, and we have very important work to undertake. But the behaviour and the conduct and the culture that we have seen exhibited by revelations of what has taken place in the parliament, we’ve seen those revelations in recent weeks, falls well below community standards and it has to change and it has to change fast.
JOURNALIST:
What do you think the Prime Minister might need to do to perhaps win back the trust of female voters?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well again, the Prime Minister was very upfront in his press conference last week about the challenges that women face across the community. These issues are much bigger than those that have surrounded Christian Porter and Linda Reynolds. These issues go to the way women are respected in the workplace and indeed treated in the home and on the street and these are issues that we are all determined to change, not just in the parliament but more broadly across the community. We have the Respect@Work recommendations, the government is working through its response. That’s a substantial piece of work. There are other issues we are seeking the advance, but it’s not just action, it’s also the ability to listen and to understand and to hear the concerns of women right across the country.
JOURNALIST:
I don’t want to labour the point but you’ve said he’s a fit and proper person to continue in his role, then on the other hand we’re talking about respecting women and women voters. The women in his electorate will not be feeling respected right now. Is it not insulting to them to say we’re going to keep him in the role, he should stay in the role, he’s a respectable guy. I mean, really?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well, his behaviour was insulting, his behaviour was disrespectful…
JOURNALIST:
So why should he not step down right now?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Because he was elected by his constituents...
JOURNALIST:
Who weren’t aware of his behaviour then...
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
But they elected him and they elected him for a three year term. Now he will continue to serve in the parliament but he has made the decision not to contest the next election. He’s also provided an apology and he’s also going to go through counselling and the other sessions…
JOURNALIST:
Which he’s made a joke of since.
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
They’re important measures. There will be important things that he has to undertake here to change his behaviour and to obviously increase his awareness of the sensitivity of these matters. No one is understating the significance of what he did and how disrespectful and how unacceptable that behaviour is. He has decided not to participate in the preselection for his seat at the next election and the Prime Minister and I welcome that.
JOURNALIST:
Can you see there’s some irony in you saying that we need to take fast action to improve the culture around Parliament House yet taking no action and Andrew Laming gets to keep his position?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
I think it’s a pretty big step for somebody who’s been in the parliament for some time, and obviously very much enjoys his role and is committed to his community, I think it’s a pretty big step for him to decide not to contest the next election.