TRANSCRIPT: PRESS CONFERENCE WAGGA WAGGA, 25 March 2020

E&OE

Subjects: Coronavirus;

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Are you far enough apart? I am serious – social distancing is very serious.

Well, obviously the rules changed again last night. Obviously the requests from Government to each and every Australian were changed again last night and anyone who saw Prime Minister Scott Morrison's press conference will be left in no doubt as to the fact that this is very serious. Obviously anybody who has been in receipt of a text this morning, and that is every Australian who owns a mobile phone, would now know that this situation is very serious.

The Government, all governments, want to as best we can, contain and minimise the novel coronavirus 2019 to ensure that we can save as many lives as possible. Yes, it is that serious. 987 tests across the Murrumbidgee local health, 987 tests have been conducted. Only ten cases but that's ten people who are now in self isolation, ten people who are being monitored at their homes by their local GP. 987 tests, ten cases and this has reached the Riverina.

I appreciate that many people are facing great worries. I appreciate that many people are very concerned and I appreciate that many people have also lost their jobs. Whether you are lining up at the Centrelink in Tompson Street, Wagga Wagga, or Currajong Street, Parkes or anywhere else, please observe that social distancing. Please make sure that you're 1.5 metres at least from the nearest person. Please make sure that if you are outside you observe that four square metre rule.

Of course, weddings now, can only be conducted at a registry office with the couple, the happy couple, two witnesses and a celebrant and any weddings have to be limited to five people. Funerals have to be limited to ten people and that includes the person, the celebrant, or the minister conducting the service and the family and close friends of the deceased. So funerals now only ten people. Real estate auctions, those sorts of things, whether they're live auctions, unless they are stock, which I will come to in a minute, well, they are banned from midnight tonight and like with live auctions, with stock auctions, conducted outdoors, indeed conducted indoors, they have to observe the ten people limit.

This is serious and we want our stock of course, continued to be sold and so farmers should just drop their stock off and leave it only to buyers. I know this is going to be difficult because quite often at the sale yards there are many more than ten buyers but it's going to be limited to ten buyers. We need to keep sale yards operating because, of course, this is important for food production. So stock auctions will continue, but they will continue under vastly different rules and, of course, when it comes to tanning, tattoo parlours, beauticians and the like, midnight tonight, that won't be happening.

Hairdressing salons, barbers will stay open but they will stay open under very new rules, under very strict rules and for only 30 minute limitations. And I appreciate this is difficult, particularly for some people who take longer to get their hair done, but they are the rules and they must be observed because we need to minimise and contain as best we can the coronavirus. We want to get as many Australians through to the other side as best we can. That's why the Government and that's why the National Cabinet have imposed these very strict rules.

If you can stay home, you should stay home. If you can work from home, you should work from home. Obviously we want to keep as many people in jobs as possible but if you are losing your job, then I would urge and encourage you to visit Centrelink, to visit Australia.gov.au or to phone 1800 020 080 and to see what you are entitled to. We've made a number of changes to payments, we've made a number of changes so that as many people can get the dignity and hope, if they've lost hours of work, if they've lost their job, to get them through this situation.

It won't be easy, I appreciate that, and that is why governments right across the nation are meeting every single night, every single day to ensure that we put in place the measures possible and necessary to ensure that the virus is limited as much as we can do. Across the nation we've had more than 2,000 cases and we've had eight deaths. That's in stark contrast to some other countries where they've had many hundreds, if not thousands of deaths. In Australia we have minimised it thus far but it is a worrying situation. We will get through it. We will get through it together.

I do want to, again, insist that food security is as what it always has been. We produce enough food in Australia for 75 million people, that's three times the Australian population. And as far as anyone needs to know, as far as anybody needs to care, farming continues. Farming and food production is an essential service. We all know that. There's no restrictions on farmers. They're still producing enough food so you don't need to go to the supermarkets and raid those shelves. There will be enough food. Food security is as what it should be and I'm just about to, again, as I am virtually on a daily basis, talk to the Transport and Infrastructure Council meeting, that is the transport ministers right across the nation, to ensure that freight can move between borders. Some borders have been shut by States but the freight has unfettered access right across the country so that our truck drivers, our rail drivers, train drivers, can continue to do what they do best and that is cart the fuel, cart the food, cart the goods that they always do. That has not changed.

Yes, obviously with the border closures by States already in place and some which might well follow, that is going to be a concern for people who need or want to travel. If you need to travel, well you need an excuse. We urge and encourage Australians to stay at home and for those Australians abroad if you have somebody, a friend who is abroad, they need to come home. We will be doing everything humanly possible to ensure that we offer flights and we offer access to people who are abroad as best we can, to get them home, but Australians do need to come home and do that as soon as possible because obviously with international flights being curtailed, being stopped in many instances apart from mercy flights, then that's going to be very difficult as the days continue for people who are abroad to, in fact, get home. Are there any questions?

JOURNALIST:

All abroad, are you talking about people who have just been travelling abroad or what about Australians that have been moving to countries like Scotland or England who may have visas running out in the next six months or so, do they need to come home now?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

I would urge and encourage them to come home because Australia's health system is the best in the world, there's no question. And those people, if they need to access health services, if they need to be able to be in the very best of care, well they need to be back in Australia. So I appreciate that for some Australians they do work abroad. I appreciate for some Australians they do need, on compassionate grounds, to leave and to meet up with family members and of course they will still be able to do that, but they will be able to only do it in strict circumstances and for some Australians, if they decide to travel, then there may not be the opportunity for us to bring them home and as this situation worsens, which it could, and which people are expecting it to, then the situation may well become dire. If they do want to return to Australia they may not have the opportunity to be able to do so.

JOURNALIST:

Do you think the States and Territories need to get on the same page with border crossings and are you worried about the effect this might have on the agriculture sector?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

As far as agriculture is concerned, agriculture will continue. Our farmers will continue to be able do what they always do best and that is grow the cleanest and greenest and freshest food and we want them to be able to do that. We want them to be able to grow crops. We've had a bit of rain, it's looking green. We want them to be able to buy the seed and fertiliser. And so when it comes to essential services, then anything to do with agriculture is very much an essential service.

Now, States who control borders, States who have sovereign rights over their own States or Territories, have that ability to be able to close their borders. That's a right drawn up in federation in 1901. So we recognise and we acknowledge that. But agriculture will continue, as it should, as it needs to and as it must.

JOURNALIST:

So what is the Government doing to ensure that people in Wagga and the Riverina can actually get access in person, on the phone or online to Centrelink services?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

What they should do is they should either visit for Wagga Wagga the Centrelink office in Tompson Street. What they should also do is phone 1800 020 080, or what they should do is go onto Australia.gov.au. So they're the contact details, either online, by phone or physically to be able to access those services and I say exercise patience. We've got another 5,000 people being employed to deal with obviously the burgeoning number of people wanting to access Centrelink services.

The other day when Centrelink services went down via the phone and via the Internet, that was only because, of course, tens of thousands of people wanting to access the service and the service wasn't built for that. There are not too many internet services or phone lines built to carry the amount of traffic that bombarded the service on Monday but we're fixing that. We're making sure that we've got an additional 5,000 people working there and I say to anybody who has lost their job, there's the ability there too, to pick up work because we are looking for 5,000 people. So if you've got talent in that regard, we want to hear from you.

JOURNALIST:

What does the modelling show you about job losses in rural areas and in particular industries, perhaps maybe more affected than others?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Yes, and the modelling is showing us that a lot of people could lose their jobs. Of course we don't know how bad the situation is going to get. We don't know, of course, how many people are going to get infected with this virus. But if you look at the situation overseas, it's dire. We've been able to, as best we can, contain and minimise the situation the virus as it is now. 987 tests conducted in the local district, ten cases have proven positive and for those ten people it's a worrying time. For people losing their jobs, of course, it's a very distressing time. The modelling is showing us that this could take up to six months. Who knows, it might even be longer than that.

But we've put down two packages. We passed them through the Parliament on Monday. One $17.6 billion, the next one was $66 billion. Those measures passed through the Parliament. We had support from the cross bench, we had support from the Labor opposition and so it shows that this is above politics. We have the measures in place to help those Australians who are losing their jobs, who will lose their jobs. I know this morning, Virgin stood down 8,000 workers. The airline industry is critical to Australia, and I'm in constant contact, of course, with REX, which has its home here in Wagga Wagga, with Qantas, with Virgin, of course with people in the general aviation sector, businesses such as Wagga Air Centre run by Chris Cabot, I'm in constant contact with them and of course, my transport ministers right around the country to get the best outcomes but these are, as I say, unprecedented, extraordinary times.

JOURNALIST:

On the airlines, are you worried that regional communities may be isolated? We heard REX this week say they won't be able to continue and there's many regional communities that rely on medical supplies and airlines. What are you doing about that?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Well, I'm very worried, of course, and I'm deeply concerned about it. We will get the medical supplies through. I'm in talks with REX about what we can do and as far as the States are concerned, I know that States are also putting up aviation packages to help the airline industry. Last week, I announced a $715 million package. I went to REX and asked them to put forward what they needed as far as a rescue package is concerned and I told them, at the time that they should put forward Airservices Aviation fees, security screening fees and fuel excise fees. I asked them to make sure that they listed those as something they wanted as part of that package and they did so. I made sure that those fees were waived.

So that, for REX and other airlines, that means when it was backdated to February 1, $159 million cash injection into their industry. But, of course, when you're stopping routes, both regionally, across the country, and internationally, that means tens of thousands of people, tens of thousands of people are going to be out of work. Yes, it might take six months for those people who are stood down, well, hopefully there will still be an airline when they return to work. But nothing's sure in this instance. There's no business that's going to shut its doors that's going to be guaranteed of a future, and that is very alarming.

But this isn't just an Australian situation. This is worldwide. This is a situation that our generation has never faced before. This is the greatest crisis since World War II. We're addressing it. I know we're working hard, day and night, to address the issues as they unfold. It's a very fluid and flexible situation and as best we can the Government is dealing with it and making sure that we minimise and contain the virus so that the best health outcomes can be achieved.

JOURNALIST:

Just on the topic of shopping centres. So food courts are now closed, they're able to serve take away.

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Take away, yes.

JOURNALIST:

But with retailers, they're still open at the moment. Is that something that could be getting looked at, at tonight's Cabinet meeting in the very near future? Will retailers –

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

We'll address those situations as they unfold but what I would say is that people need to observe the social distancing rules. It's so important. And if people don't observe those social distancing rules, well the rules will change again and that's why the rules have had to change because of the situation at Bondi Beach and elsewhere, where people simply were far too blasé, far too, you know, just shrugging their shoulders and saying well, it doesn't affect me. Well, it does affect every Australian. We can't be just shrugging our shoulders and saying everything will be alright because it won't be. We need to make sure that we observe those social distancing rules and as best we can, not just think of ourselves but think of others. Think of elderly Australians who are the most vulnerable group.

We want other people to get through the other side with minimal, minimal damage and damage, unfortunately, means people whose health might be affected for the rest of their lives or, indeed, they could die from this. We've already had eight deaths. We do not want any more.

JOURNALIST:

Michael, they're worried about potentially hundreds of local cases even in the next couple of weeks. Should we be saying now, further to Sam's question, you know, stay home. I can see cars going past us here on Baylis and Fitzmaurice, should we be saying to those people, you know, stay home if you can? Is it time to try to shut those down?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Indeed, indeed, you're quite correct. If they can stay home, they should stay home. If they can work from home and their boss says that they can work from home, they should do that. They should follow those rules. We want people, as best they can, to stay in their local areas. We want people, as best they can, to stay home. Of course, as the Prime Minister indicated last night, every job is an essential job. Every service still operating is an essential service. Every job able to be fulfilled, we want them to continue as best they can, as normally as they can. But these are extraordinary times and if people are able to stay home, then they should. But what they shouldn't be doing is having big barbecues and mass gatherings and parties as the Prime Minister indicated. Even 1 year old birthdays. That's a thing of the past.

You can have a few close friends and family so long as it doesn't go over ten. And we will be monitoring this. Sadly, and I know that if there's lots of noise and partying going on, I know the neighbours will put you in. That's the way it's going to be. People want Australians to get through this as best they can and Australians need to be their best selves in these difficult circumstances.

JOURNALIST:

Do you understand people's confusion sometimes when they hear if they can stay home they should stay home but on the other hand Pandora jewellery shops and shopping centres are still open and they can go there if they like?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

People can still shop if they want and we want to make sure that people can conduct their businesses if they're able to do so. But for some of those businesses, those ones I listed before, well, from midnight tonight they are not allowed to be open. And the situation is very fluid. The situation is unfolding not by day but by hour. And that is why the Prime Minister is conducting the National Cabinet himself, the State and Territory Chief Ministers, Premiers, every night. So every Premier, the six of them, both Chief Ministers and the Prime Minister are meeting every night. They're looking at the situation as it's unfolded that day and if the rules need to be changed every night they will be changed. This is an unfolding situation.

Let me tell you, Australians will thank us for what we're doing and if you want to be sure that you're going to get out the other side in one piece, then follow the rules. It's that simple. If you don't want to be in your palliative care in July thinking I should have followed the rules, I should have done what I was told back in March, I should have listened. I should have went on to Australia.gov.au. I should have phoned 1800 020 080. I should have thought of others. I shouldn't have been so blasé about it and not followed what I was meant to do and look at me now, I'm in a palliative care bed and it's July and I can't see any future. That's what we're trying to avoid. So it's really simple. It's really tough, it's really strict, but it's really simple. Follow the rules, if you can stay home please do so.

JOURNALIST:

Michael, is there any ability, I guess, to block off metropolitan areas from regional communities, you know, if we got people in Sydney obviously there's a lot more infection there than there is out here, at the moment, and it's probably people coming from those directions that could be infecting people here. Is there any future plans to, I guess, limit even travel outside of cities for any reason?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

I think State Governments are talking about that very thing right now.

JOURNALIST:

So you said you're meeting with transport ministers.

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Over teleconference, Rex.

JOURNALIST:

Who is responsible for allowing the Ruby Princess cruise ship to disembark in Sydney with no apparent quarantine controls?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

Well, unfortunately, NSW Health was responsible for those people disembarking that vessel. Cruise ships, of course, we don't want cruise ships unloading in Australia, if they're not Australians. Of course if they're Australians they're entitled to come back here but there are strict regimes around them getting off the boats and that is being tested, that is making sure that if they do test that they've got a temperature or the virus, that they do and at any rate, at the very bottom line, that they do self isolate and that's the bottom line.

That's always been the case. If they got off a cruise ship, if they get a plane, they've been overseas, it doesn't matter know where they've been overseas, they could be in Iceland for all we care, they need to self isolate for 14 days and they need to follow those self isolation rules. There needs to be very strict guidelines around that. If you're told to self isolate, if you know you have to self isolate, stay at home.

JOURNALIST:

Border Force control Australia's borders, is there not some culpability there?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

I don't want to get into the culpability or not. The fact is those people disembarked and the fact is those people have not followed the rules. They haven't self isolated and that's disappointing. That's really, really disappointing for those people to have shown flagrant disregard for other Australians. If you're told to self isolate then for God's sake, do it. It's pretty easy. You've got to look after yourself, yes, but you've got to look after other Australians, particularly elderly Australians, particularly for that age group who want to get through this to the other side. That's why there's strict visitation rules around aged care centres and nursing homes but if Australians are going to come in from overseas and then just walk around the community as though nothing else matters, they're the only one, well, you know, these sorts of outbreaks will happen.

JOURNALIST:

Michael, there is actually talk going around that there are about 20 people who were on the Diamond Princess in Wagga, prominent businessmen, one is a hairdresser, talk that they have not self isolated at all. Have you heard about these cases?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

I have heard that some people from a cruise ship have arrived in Wagga. I notified the Murrumbidgee Local Health District this morning. They have been in touch with the bus company to ensure that those people were given instructions when they boarded the bus, before they were dropped off, to ensure they self isolated. So that is being followed up by the local healthcare district. I know that's a fact.

But I would say to those people, if they are, in fact, somebody who has stepped off a boat, somebody who has stepped off a plane, then self isolate. Don't leave home. It's pretty simple.

JOURNALIST:

Are you worried about regional hospitals being able to cope? We know that test kits already have been sent to Sydney, they can't be tested locally and there's some delays in that area?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:

We're doing everything we can to provide the necessary face masks. In fact, we are pumping up production locally here in Australia for more face masks for personal protection equipment, whether it's for health services, whether it's for funeral homes, whatever the case might be, doctor's surgeries and we are making sure, through the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, that our hospitals are equipped as best they can, to meet the needs for this virus. Thank you very much.