JOSH FRYDENBERG:
It’s been a terrible, tragic time for so many Australians as fires have devastated so many parts of our country. Lives have been lost, homes have been destroyed. Our thoughts are with all those families and communities who have been impacted, and with all those brave firefighters and emergency service personnel who are doing their best to help others save their own lives. I have just been at the state control centre where I’ve received a briefing from the Australian Defence Force, Emergency Management Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology and state authorities about the measures that are currently underway as well as the weather conditions to expect in coming days. As Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews has said today, the co-operation between the federal and state authorities has been very strong, and our message to the Australian people is that everything that can be done is being done, to ensure that they can get to safety and that their lives and that their properties can be protected in the face of these ferocious fires. The Australian Defence Force updated me on measures underway to support the three to four thousand people who are currently at Mallacoota. They have an amphibious vessel there and another defence vessel, and are ready to relocate people to safer ground. We’ve also got aerial support there as well as across the state there is ADF spartan aircraft, fixed wing aircraft, as well as chinooks and black hawk helicopters that are helping get firefighters and emergency service personnel to those most remote parts of the state where it’s very difficult to otherwise get support to those people who need it. In addition to the operational support, there’s also financial support that is coming from the Federal Government with recovery payments and allowances, both to support those people in hardship but also those people who have lost income as a result of the fires. I have spoken today to my counterparts in NSW and in Victoria, and obviously we’ll be working closely together to get these communities back on their feet as the recovery effort continues. But as the Prime Minister made very clear in his press conference earlier today, the government will do whatever it takes and at whatever cost that is required, to ensure that these communities get the support that they need in this most difficult time.
JOURNALIST:
Treasurer, the Prime Minister mentioned today a review when things settle down. Can you give us some more information on what that review might be?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Obviously we’ll be working with all the relevant authorities after the fires have abated but right now we’re right in the middle of them, and the information I got from the Bureau of Meteorology is here in Victoria we’re going to see pretty hot, dry, windy conditions this weekend so we’re certainly not through the worst of it by any measure but obviously there will be lessons to be learnt, as there have been from other similar natural disasters. We all know what happened here a number of years ago in Victoria with devastating fires and the measures that, and the lessons that were learnt. So there are always lessons to be learnt, but right now we are working with our state counterparts to get every commonwealth resource, financial and operational, to the task at hand.
JOURNALIST:
The NSW Government (inaudible) are calling for an overhaul of climate policies. Will you consider some of their ideas?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well our focus is on meeting our Paris commitments, and that is a 26 to 28 per cent reduction by 2030 on 2005 levels, and just as we beat our first Kyoto target and on track to beat our 2020 target, we are confident that we will beat our 2030 target. Let me say about climate change, climate change is real. We’re not disputing the science. What we are focused on is the most effective way for Australia to meet its international obligations, recognising that we as a planet are seeing climate change and we need to be part of the global solution, which we are. So we will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that there is a smooth transition across the economy, but in the most cost effective way. And as the Prime Minister has underlined it’s all about doing so in a responsible way that ensures our economy and our environment continue to get the best possible outcomes.
JOURNALIST:
Speaking of cost, do you know how much these bushfires are costing the taxpayer and especially the with the ADF (inaudible).
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well again, it’s too early to tell what the full financial cost will be. But that is not our primary concern. Our primary concern is not about the financial cost, it’s about the human cost of these tragic fires so we are working with the ADF; emergency management Australia; upstairs you’ve got the NBNCo that is helping to get telecommunication networks up and running; you’ve got the Australian Energy Market Operator that is working with other organisations to ensure that the energy grid stays stable and support can get to those who need it. The Bureau of Meteorology are here, so it’s a full court press from the Federal Government working with our state counterparts to ensure that people get the support that they need.
JOURNALIST:
NSW Police have referred its investigation into the….
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Sorry, is there any more questions about the fires?
JOURNALIST:
Do you think climate change is impacting the bushfire season in Australia?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well that same question was put to the Prime Minister and there is no doubt that climate change is real and it’s impacting upon the global environment, and that’s why we’re part of a global solution to take action.
JOURNALIST:
(inaudible) reports coming out of the recent climate talks that Angus Taylor was undermining the talks.
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well that’s just false.
JOURNALIST:
People are looking for leadership, when will the Prime Minister head to the fire fields and give support to those still there?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well I understand he will be in Victoria shortly. He’s been in other affected areas and he’s called a meeting of the National Security Committee of Cabinet, of which I am a member, on Monday and we’ll be going through further steps. But he’s in constant contact with his colleagues, with the State Premiers, getting briefings from Emergency Management Australia as well as, as he indicated today, the CDF. So the Prime Minister, David Littleproud, the Deputy Prime Minister, myself, all members of the government – I was speaking today to one of our Minister’s, our Social Services Minister, who is working with Centrelink to ensure that the support gets out to those who need it. So there’s many different aspects of the government that is working to ensure that people get the support that they need.
JOURNALIST:
Are you going to push the Prime Minister to change his climate policies or at least (inaudible)?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well our climate policies are going to be delivering on our 2030 targets and as again, you would be familiar with, when we came to government we were scheduled to miss the 2020 emissions reduction target, now we’re scheduled to be ahead of that target. Climate change is real. We have a set of policies that are designed to reduce our emissions consistent with our international commitments. But right now our absolute focus is on delivering the operational support, the financial support, to those people who need it. Everything that can be done is being done to support those communities.
JOURNALIST:
Will there be commonwealth assistance for business owners affected by the fires?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Look, we’ll take the necessary steps to support communities in need. Today I was talking to State Treasurers about the various areas where there could be further support into the future.
JOURNALIST:
You said the Prime Minister was going to be in Victoria shortly, is that shortly today? Or in the next coming days?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
In coming days.
JOURNALIST:
As in next week (inaudible).
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well, there’ll be an appropriate announcement, but in coming days and obviously now he’s in NSW and dealing with the fires there.
JOURNALIST:
The NSW Police have referred its investigation into the office of Angus Taylor to the Australian Federal Police, are you concerned by that?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
As you referred to it, the matter is now with the Federal Police and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.
JOURNALIST:
Do you know why it’s been referred to the Federal Police?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Like I said, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further, it has been referred and I’ll leave it at that.
JOURNALIST:
Does the fact that this investigation hasn’t been immediately dismissed, prove it’s not a Labor witch hunt?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
As I said, the matter has been referred to the AFP and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further and I’ll leave it to the relevant authorities. Thank you.