TRANSCRIPT: Press Conference, 10 April 2019
Subjects: The Northern Queensland Water Infrastructure Program; vegan activists; infrastructure funding; Adani mine approvals.
MICHELLE LANDRY:
Look, it’s fantastic to have Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack in Rockhampton once again. He’s a regular visitor to this area because he knows how important Central Queensland is to the rest of the country. And today, he’s here to talk about the Northern Queensland Water Infrastructure Program. And this is something that I think is extremely important and I’m looking forward to it actually being officially launched. And I’m pushing hard for the head office to be in Rockhampton. As I say, we’re the gateway to the north. We’ve got Rookwood Weir on the books, and that is the first major water infrastructure project in this nation in many, many years.
We’ve fought Labor for this; we’ve fought the Greens for it, and I’m hoping that state Labor is going to tick off on it very soon because it is extremely important for this region. It’s about $1 billion in agriculture a year and over 2000 jobs. So, water infrastructure is one of the most important things that we can see in this nation. And when we’ve had these very severe droughts right across Australia, this is important to actually help that. So, I’ll hand over now to the Deputy Prime Minister.
Thank you.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well, thanks Michelle. Great to be in Rockhampton again and great to be talking about water infrastructure because the North Queensland Water Authority is going to unlock so much potential. It’s going to make sure that we’ve got the rigor over the infrastructure that we’re hoping to develop, and today I want to talk about the expanded critical role that the North Queensland Water Authority will play in water infrastructure. Now, initially, when it was established it was looking at the Hughenden Irrigation Scheme, the Big Rocks and Hells Gate Dam proposals and projects. But what we want to do is we want to make sure that it covers more than just that; more than just those particular projects but indeed the Rockhampton, and I know it's to do with not just the electorate of Capricornia but also Flynn – the Rookwood Weir. Now, we've invested $176.1 million towards that piece of vital water infrastructure. Now, many people talked about it, the stakeholders wanted it; they deserved it, they demanded it; we put real money on the table – $176.1 million, made possible because Michelle Landry here fought hard for it. She campaigned; she delivered. And I know how much that is going to unlock for agricultural output for this particular region – for this great central Queensland region. There is so much potential here. Just add water and you can add to the economy; just add water and you can grow more things. And whether it's indeed crops; whether it's indeed livestock, and I know Michelle will share with me the fact that we both like a good steak and never been a better time to eat a steak with- my favourite’s tomato sauce but Michelle might probably like-
MICHELLE LANDRY:
Mushroom gravy.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
There you go, mushroom gravy, but never been a better time to eat a steak than right now with the vegan activists trying to tell us all that we shouldn't be eating beef, and you don't tell people in central Queensland that they shouldn't be eating beef. And we want to make sure that whether they're beef farmers; whether they’re crop growers; whether they're doing anything involving water; that they have a future and they certainly have a future through the North Queensland Water Authority. Richard McLoughlin, the interim CEO, has been appointed there. We're going to have a board of nine. The final details are still being worked through, but indeed, we're talking to key stakeholders, we're talking to key people. Michelle is having input into that, as are other Members of the LNP.
We're going to make sure that a re-elected Liberal-National's Government, federally, puts real money on the table for this. We already have announced it, we already have money for it but we want to really make sure that we push this through because we've got half a billion dollars –$500 million for the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund. We want the North Queensland Water Authority to play a role in looking at projects, in looking at business cases, in helping us to unlock some of the great potential that we can do here in North Queensland, here in central Queensland. As Michelle just said, Rockhampton is the gateway to the north and I know that Rockhampton is going to play a big future in the North Queensland Water Authority going forward.
JOURNALIST:
There was a little bit of drama between Townsville and Rocky on the location of that head office. Do you think this expansion gives Rocky an even stronger case to have it here?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well it's good that there is drama. It's good that people want to be involved, and I know that the Member for Herbert jumped up and down and caused a bit of a fuss. It's the first time I've actually seen her get active about something. The fact is, I know Phillip Thompson was straight on the phone to me pushing Townsville’s merits. I also know how passionate Michelle Landry here is for Rockhampton. So you know, we'll consider all those proposals, we'll consider where it's best placed, and we'll make the right call at the right time. We're working through arrangements at the moment. The fact is, we’ve arranged, we’ve organised and we've coordinated The North Queensland Water Authority. It’s going to play a vital role in the future. It's necessary, it's important, it’s strategic, and really looking forward to discussing more about these things – the location, the directors and indeed, you know, just exactly what the role it's going to play in the future at the right time.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER:
Any more questions?
JOURNALIST:
I’ve got some questions for Michelle, unrelated.
MICHELLE LANDRY:
Yeah, and I just want to make another comment about something on the subject, too.
Actually, I want to talk about two things, and they really are related. So we've just seen a major protest outside my office today and by various groups of unions. As far as I'm concerned, this is an absolute disgrace. They intimidated my staff. They were taking photos through the windows. They actually had union signs up blocking the stop signs to the railway line, which actually causes- can cause danger to people going across that railway line. And this is what we are going to see if the people of Australia vote in Bill Shorten and his union mates. The Labor candidate in Rockhampton can only talk about casualisation and penalty rates. He cannot talk about anything else. If I make a commitment to something, then he does, and I’m having people come into my office saying: Michelle, we wanted to talk to Labor about sporting projects, about other projects around this region. He refuses to see them all. All they are interested in is these unions, and I'm telling you: I will not be intimidated by unions. They are an absolute disgrace. The unions that are coming right across this country are trying to bully and intimidate people. And the average person does not like it. It is absolutely disgraceful.
And then, I also hear that Bob Brown and his team of vegans and whatever else he's got on board are doing a protest in Emu Park on Anzac Day. Now, what a goddamn disgrace that is. Yes, people are entitled to have their protest, to have their say. Anzac Day is, well, really a very solemn day in this nation and right across the world. And these people have no respect for anyone; they have no respect for our military, for the people that have lost their lives. They are a disgrace to this nation. And how dare they come up here and protest about jobs in central Queensland. You know, the Adani Coal Mine has created a lot of activity with these people, and this is about jobs for Central Queensland. And I will continue to stand strong for the mining sector because it is about jobs, and if we back down to Labor and the unions about the Adani coalmine then they're just going to start attacking other ones. And we saw a Labor shadow minister yesterday came out and said that he doesn't support any more coal mines in the Galilee Basin. Well that's a disgrace, and to have coal miner as the Labour candidate here, what's he doing? Does he think that we are going to be bullied and intimidated by those unions? Because I tell you now: we will not be.
JOURNALIST:
Michelle, the protests outside your office – they said that they were wanting penalty cuts to be restored. Is there any plan for the federal Government to review that or …
MICHELLE LANDRY:
So, with regards to the penalty rates, it was .25 per cent on a Sunday, and I’ve actually have not had people saying anything to me except the unions, protesting. This is done by an independent authority. And the hypocritical thing about this is, Labor actually started that authority. So, you know, then they turn the tables and say: oh, the Coalition are these evil people that are doing stuff. Well we're out there every day working to get more jobs and getting people into more work. And, you know, I'm just sick to death of these unions. They’re on roadsides every day. They're blocking traffic. They're going to cause a major accident soon. They are out of control. Why aren't they at work? Why are they protesting outside my office when they should be at work? This is people's hard earned dollars that are paying these unionists to protest across this country.
JOURNALIST:
Shannon Fentiman said in Rocky today the State Government is kicking goals with one hand tied behind its back, because of the Coalition’s $120 million in cuts to skills and training in the recent Budget. What’s your response to that?
MICHELLE LANDRY:
Oh look, absolute garbage once again from a desperate Labor Party. We've got 80,000 apprenticeship positions right across this nation. But what the Labor Party don't realise, to actually get people in apprenticeships, you actually have to have business. You have to have industries for them to be working in, and they just don’t realise that. They just think picketing along roadsides, causing problems outside federal offices is going to get jobs. Well it's not. We are doing something about it. We’re putting billions of dollars into major infrastructure across this region and we are working hard to get 80,000 new apprenticeship places right across this country.
JOURNALIST:
Federal Labor has promised 100,000 free TAFE positions. How much do you think that will cost? Do you think they can afford it?
MICHELLE LANDRY:
Look, they seem to be spending, spending, spending. And the other day, the question was asked to the Labor candidate in Capricornia: what are you going to do to pay this? And he says: oh well, we’re just spending money. They have no idea. They have no idea how to balance the Budget and we've seen that by- that federal Labor has not had a surplus for 30 years. It’s taken us 12 years to get back into the position to have a budget and surplus. Labor have no idea. All they do is spend, spend, spend. If Labor is elected next election, God help this country because they have no idea how to balance a budget. They don't care about business and all they do is spend money, waste money, and I really have great fears for this nation.
JOURNALIST:
And just on the Yeppoon Road, TMR have estimated the duplication to complete it would now cost $200 million. Would you be open to increasing your funding commitment for the road?
MICHELLE LANDRY:
Look, I've spoken recently to Michael about this. So, we’ve put $64 million down as a starting point with this. But this is a Queensland road. What we have to ask is: what is the Member for Keppel doing once again? She’s very silent on this. The road is extremely important and it's something that we’ll continue to work on. We have recently announced $190 million for the Roads of Strategic Importance between Yeppoon and Mount Isa and I have spoken to Michael about this as well. Main Roads come up with the plans but the initial $64 million was to make sure that we look at areas that are causing problems there. We don't want any more lives to be lost and I don't really think that having four lanes from Rockhampton and Yeppoon is going to be the saviour of it all. It's about drivers. But it’s also about some of those artillery roads that come into the main section. I believe there should be some more stop signs there and also some signage saying that you're coming to a stop sign, you're entering the main area. So, it's not just about four lanes from Rocky to Yeppoon, it’s about fixing up those dangerous areas along that road.
JOURNALIST:
Just a question for the Deputy Prime Minister. Do you believe that Annastacia Palaszczuk and Jackie Trad are fit to be in government, given their inaction on approving the Carmichael mine?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well, the pressure is on them both now. They know that a lot of the revenue that they and their government get to fund state schools, to fund state hospitals, comes from coal mining. The fact is, the pressure is on them now to stop stalling and to give the necessary approvals to allow this project to go ahead. When a project such as this puts up 1400, 1500 jobs and gets 14,000 applications, well, you know it's going to actually do some good for local economies. You know it's going to do a power of good for the regional economy of Queensland. You know it's going to do a power of good for the state coffers. Now, Jackie Trad and Annastacia Palaszczuk, they need to have a good, long, hard look in the mirror. They know that they've got the capability to put the Adani Mine on the front of their agenda, and they need to do it. It’s got the necessary tick-offs now from Geoscience Australia. It's got the necessary tick-offs from the CSIRO; independent authority of organisations doing detailed analysis, making sure that it's ticked all the right, necessary environmental boxes. The Environmental Department which advises Melissa Price, the Environment Minister, has also given it its nod of approval, and more importantly, the Minister has said that she’s listened, she's looked at, she's observed, she's got the right paperwork and she’s signed off on it, too. So pressure is now on Queensland Labor. Do they want the jobs? Do they want the exports? Do they want the money in their state revenue resources? And do they want to make sure that they back regional Queensland, that they back Central Queensland, or are they going to continue to ignore the plight of this company which has spent eight years – eight years – to get to this point? It's got the necessary Commonwealth approvals. It now needs the State Queensland Government to stump up as well.
JOURNALIST:
Do you think Leeanne Enoch should resign if the mine isn’t approved?
MICHAEL MCCORMACK:
Well, that’d be a good start. I mean, the fact is, it has the necessary approvals. It's got the necessary Commonwealth tick-off; it just needs the Queensland Government do their job. Do their job to save and protect and enhance other people's jobs. I mean, there are many, many hundreds of jobs relying on this. And the fact is, we need Adani to be able to do what they've always said they're going to do, and that is build a mine with all the necessary approvals to employ more Australians, to employ more regional Queenslanders. There's the pressure. There's the line in the sand for the Premier and the Treasurer of Queensland. Stump up, everyone else has. Do your job.
Thanks very much.
MICHELLE LANDRY:
Thank you.