TRANSCRIPT: WESTCONNEX M8 PRESS CONFERENCE, 1 July 2020
E&OE
Subjects: WestConnex M8, Coronavirus, Australian Made Logo, Eden-Monaro by-election;
WITH: THE HON. GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN MP, PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES & THE HON. ANDREW CONSTANCE MP, NEW SOUTH WALES MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT & ROADS.
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
WestConnex is delivering those extra time savings we didn't have before. Please also know there is a cap on WestConnex. So you won't be able to pay over a certain amount which gives people a degree of comfort. Please also know that through Service NSW we have those rebates in place whether it's getting free rego or discount rego or literally hundreds of other ways in which you can save on your household bills through the Government's initiatives that we have.
So this is a great day for New South Wales and I think as Minister Constance put it a few days ago, its [inaudible]. But certainly, it's pleasing to see that whilst the State has gone through a difficult period, certainly construction hasn't gone through a similar slowdown. We've managed to make sure we keep building, so long, as I say, done in a COVID-safe way.
Can I please thank all the workers, thousands of people have been employed on this project from the get-go at various levels and not only has this project delivered this great new piece of road but also made sure that we've employed thousands of people and I want to thank each and every worker. In fact, just outside I met a bunch of workers who were actually in charge of making sure the telecommunications in the tunnel is up to speed, whether it's telcos or whether it's emergency communications.
So there's a lot of detail that goes into this and I know that when motorists use this for the first time, they will be pleased with the travel-time savings, pleased with the convenience and know that we're going towards one network of just efficient, which saves time, which is safer and obviously above ground reduces congestion and pressure on roads that previously would have been used above ground.
So it's good news all round and I want to thank everybody involved and as you know, we keep saying, we mean it, we will continue to build our way through the COVID recovery. Building projects and ensuring construction, allowing the private sector to also make investments that will ensure that we keep those jobs going so that we don't lose more jobs in New South Wales on top of what has happened because of COVID. I now invite the Deputy Prime Minister to speak.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Thank you, Premier and just the other day I was with Paul Toole, the New South Wales Roads Minister, just near Yass, talking up the billion dollars of road infrastructure that the New South Wales Liberals and the New South Wales Nationals and the Commonwealth Government are investing right across this great state.
Here I am today with Premier Gladys Berejiklian, the Roads and Transport Minister Andrew Constance, in a tunnel. If Prime Minister Scott Morrison was here, he'd say, “how good are tunnels?” Indeed, they are. So if you're travelling from the southern suburbs to Liverpool, it's going to save you half an hour one way. As the Premier just said, you go both ways that's an hour of your life you're saving each and every day and as I travel here today, there was a sign, albeit it was talking about building houses but it said, "hassle-free living".
And this is what it's about. It's about making life more hassle-free. We want to take away the hustle, the stress, the bustle and the strain on everyday life and that's why we're building these tunnels – the M5, soon to be M8. We're making sure that we build the tunnels to save people time, whether they're kids on school buses, whether they're tradies, whether they're families, no matter who they are, they're going to be saving time each and every day as they travel through the network of tunnels, as Premier Berejiklian has just stated, right throughout Sydney and the metropolitan area.
But it's not just Sydney, it's right across New South Wales. It's those regional, rural and remote roads, that are also getting road safety upgrades. That are also getting very necessary infrastructure built into them to make sure that whether you are travelling to New South Wales – this great State – or whether you are a resident of New South Wales. The fact is you're going to have better roads on which to drive and if you get to where you need to be sooner and safer, well that leads to hassle-free living. That's what it's all about.
I will invite Andrew Constance to make some remarks but it's also about jobs. It's about infrastructure. It's about delivering and that's what the Liberals and Nationals are doing at a federal level and a state level.
ANDREW CONSTANCE
Thanks, DPM. It's great to be here with the Premier because many years ago we were involved in decisions which led to this infrastructure boom when it comes to motorways and to see a third motorway going to be opened inside 12 months in Sydney is unprecedented. We've never seen this before. With 100-kilometres of tunnelling happening under the city, this nine-kilometre tunnel is going to make as much difference to people in the south-west as we've seen with the M4 East with people of Parramatta to the coast. This is going to be phenomenal. It's ten-minutes from Beverly Hills to St Peters, it's a half hour on travel saved from Liverpool into south Sydney. And this is the time that families value every day and it's about spending more time with loved ones, getting to work quicker and making this city function in the way that it should.
I want to also applaud and thank the 18,000 men and women who have built these tunnels and it's a phenomenal job. It's one which every single one of those individuals can be so proud of, it's city shaping, it's congestion-busting and it's going to make a world of distance for people of south-west Sydney, but also the world of difference to the people of regional New South Wales who need to come into town and they're going to be able to travel straight into the heart of the city.
It was a big build. I will just capitalise on what the DPM said because we've invested $23 billion in motorways and we have the toll regimes in place, the infrastructure has been built generations ahead of time but it's also giving us the capacity to spend $46 billion on the road network which everybody continues to benefit from. We know that small regional projects or major arterial road projects in Sydney, that's the type of capacity we've been able to build into the road networks.
JOURNALIST
Premier, yesterday you were asked about possible toll-free period [inaudible], do you leave that open?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
No, it's not open at all, there won't be a toll-free period, I’m sorry [inaudible].
JOURNALIST
What's your advice then on the M5 East [inaudible], I think it's about $45 return as a result of having to pay the extra toll, should they take the old toll route around the airport?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
That's a matter for businesses and individuals to make those decisions. What we do is put forward the pricing arrangement, how they're going to take it up is a matter for them. But I do emphasise [inaudible].
JOURNALIST
Can you clarify [inaudible]?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
Yes, the best advice we have is that it could possibly open as soon as this weekend. [Inaudible], the best advice that Minister Constance and I have, as late as a few minutes ago, was that it's likely to be on the weekend, it could be a few days after.
JOURNALIST
Premier, you mentioned a weekly cap, can you talk to what that is?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
There's a daily cap on [inaudible].
JOURNALIST
So this tunnel is a piece of a bigger scheme of tunnels. So how important is it that this tunnel opens first and then it will link up to the other tunnel?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
Well, obviously, when we made the decision to invest in WestConnex, it feels like many years ago now, there was a very structured logical process and obviously what we also would do is have the majority of residents coming from those suburbs [inaudible], anyone coming from south-west Sydney in the south [inaudible].
JOURNALIST
Premier, as you come into this tunnel, you see how wide it is. Can you explain the desire to future proof this?
ANDREW CONSTANCE
[Inaudible] and this tunnel is built pretty much the same way in which the M4 East tunnel and it's designed to ensure safety first and foremost and it's built with future proofing in mind. So it's really important, where we're standing right now is the start to the M6. [Inaudible], we're going to see a 43% drop of trucks on the M5 East tunnel as a result of the M8 tunnel. It's going to make that motorway function the way that it should. [Inaudible] The wear and tear their trucks for every minute they're not moving and at the same time lose money. We're halving the travel time, getting the traffic moving across the M5 East [inaudible].
JOURNALIST
And what's next in terms of the infrastructure of the tunnels?
ANDREW CONSTANCE
The good news is we’ve opened the M4 East. We've opened this tunnel and we're now 2.5 kilometres in the tunnel between the west and inner-city and so that will be St Peters to Rozelle and it's due to open in 2023. We've also got the Gateway project which links WestConnex to the airport. At Rozelle we've got a big one, [inaudible] the M6 which is also going to be a game changer and this is all under way. This is the best thing about this. This is what we've been talking about. This is being delivered and the only people who are criticising this are our political opponents. [Inaudible]
JOURNALIST
Tolls are going up again [inaudible]?
ANDREW CONSTANCE
They should always look to see [Inaudible].
JOURNALIST
Premier, just on the hardship [inaudible] the Government's fairer fines system comes into effect today. This is the means by which people on government benefits will get half price fines, getting a parking ticket and the like. Do you think that passes the pub test, people on government benefits get their fines halved through an application process?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
As I understand, that was a consequence of amendments moved by the crossbench in the Upper House. So it wasn't a government measure, it was something that passed the Upper House of Parliament [inaudible].
JOURNALIST
Yet the Government allowed it to pass, though?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
Well, no, the Government's option is [inaudible] so we were left with no choice.
JOURNALIST
Will you seek to change the policy?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
We don't have a choice. The Upper House, the cross-bench have made the decision with the Labor Party.
JOURNALIST
You can legislate it, though?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
No, we can't. We can't get it through. It was actually the Labor Party, let's make it clear, the Labor Party and the crossbench made this amendment and the Government's options were to pull everything or accept the amendment. We chose to accept the amendment. [Inaudible].
JOURNALIST
So nothing actually really changes?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
Well, there's just an extra onus on the person to demonstrate they've got hardship and please be clear, this wasn't a Government suggestion. This was an Upper House proposal.
JOURNALIST
Premier, what are your thoughts on Victoria and the new restrictions that are in place for the New South Wales residents that travel to Melbourne?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
Obviously, we are considering what's happening in Victoria but I'm relieved that the Premier of Victoria is locking down those hot spots and you would have heard the response today from the Health Minister and Chief Medical Officer that there will be strict penalties for those who travel to New South Wales from those hot spots. Now I don't expect that to happen, because if the Victorian authorities are doing their job where they're having strong compliance with travelling around those streets and those suburbs, I don't expect anyone to breach it, to be able to actually get out of those hot spots in the first place. But if they do happen to make their way to New South Wales [inaudible] a restriction on Victorians able to purchase tickets to major events in the next few weeks, at least. That is because we appreciate whilst we are doing okay as a State, the risk for a spike is always there.
From today, as you know, a number of the restrictions are eased. I am concerned about New South Wales relaxing too much. Please know that in the next few weeks our focus will come [inaudible] they include businesses, especially hospitality businesses, cafes and restaurants, you have to maintain the COVID-safe standards. Do not let your guard down. It only takes a couple of people who are infected to create a spike which then allows or causes anybody else to suffer as a consequence. We don't want to go backwards, we don't want to have a stop-start approach to things.
Please know that we will be focusing on the [inaudible] in the next few weeks whether you're a business, whether you're an individual, whether you're a workplace. We, of course, are pleased to be able to ease restrictions but that comes with caution. Please maintain the COVID-safe standards with your workplace.
We would argue as a Government, one of the reasons why New South Wales is where it is, is because we used the time in lockdown to put in place COVID-safe measures and now as businesses are reopened, as people are going back to work, as people are using the transport system, it's so critical to maintain those COVID-safe practices, to make sure we don't go backwards, that we're in a position where we either standstill [inaudible].
JOURNALIST
Will you allow a hub for the AFL [inaudible]?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
All codes of sport, especially all codes of professional sport, had to put in very strict COVID-safe plans right from the beginning of the pandemic. And so there is a degree of confidence that professional sport is able to maintain the safety of their players but of course, we don't mind [inaudible]. However, we have imposed a restriction for the next four weeks, at least, people who watch those events [inaudible].
JOURNALIST
International flights that were to go to Melbourne, are you ruling them out from coming to Sydney?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
I just put a case, touch wood and I thank all our health officials who managed to get 30,000 Australians to quarantine. Around a third of them, around 10,000 of those incidents weren't from New South Wales. So we've actually, ironically, some of the other states have been able to benefit from saying that they've got zero cases because we've taken care of their people here in New South Wales in quarantine. So, all I'm suggesting is perhaps some consideration be given [inaudible] New South Wales has borne the overwhelming burden of returning Aussies on behalf of the nation.
Victoria has well, [inaudible] for all of the nation, and I only think it's fair, that other States take on those flights from Melbourne. [Inaudible] in the last week alone there's been a 50% increase in the number of overseas travellers in our hotel quarantine. We were averaging around 3,000 people in our hotel quarantine. We've now got around 4,800, we have seen an increase in the last week.
And the other concern is [inaudible] with the virus is the infection rates are increases in places like the United States. So as people come home from those places they have a high chance of having the virus. So we all have to be vigilant, we all have to be on our toes and I think it's reasonable to say to the other States, you've been able to have their bubbles because we've borne the burden of these overseas travellers to say please share in that burden. We've already done 30,000 or more and at the moment we've got 4,800 in hotel quarantine on behalf of the nation. That's why I think it's fair for other states to also accept some of those flights.
JOURNALIST
Deputy Prime Minister, can I ask your thoughts on the Wattle brand, the national brand-mark that Australia has implemented?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
I appreciate that some people are hopping mad about this and I get that most of them are in the media but what’ll they think of next to criticise us? The fact is that I have spoken to Simon Birmingham today and he has assured me that the kangaroo that we all know and love has been part of the Australian Made logo will stay. Yes, there's been another brand which will be used in trade shows which features the beautiful wattle. Hopefully the wattle from Cootamundra, that beautiful gold emblem that we know and love so well. But the Australian Made kangaroo logo is there to stay.
JOURNALIST
The wattle looks a bit like the virus, though.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Your view, not mine. It's gold. The virus is usually expressed in red.
JOURNALIST
Did you like the wattle?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
I like the kangaroo. Don't we all like kangaroos? It's an iconic Australian brand. Like I say, it's there, it's been on the Australian Made logo for years. It's there to stay.
JOURNALIST
Do you particularly like the wattle emblem?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
I like the Cootamundra wattle. I love the gold but look, the iconic kangaroo has been used. It's known throughout the world for Australian made and I appreciate it's there to stay.
JOURNALIST
It seems a waste of money, though, to come up with that logo?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
It was used to show that we are more than just kangaroos and koalas and other great things all about Australia. The wattle is an iconic part of the Australian bush and appreciate from my electorate in the Riverina, the Cootamundra wattle is renowned throughout New South Wales, renowned throughout the nation. It will be used at trade shows. The kangaroo will be there on products and it will be there and still say, “this is Australian made.” What better thing to do than buy Australian made.
We all know we have the best food, the best fibre, the best resources, the best products, they all come from Australia. They're going to be there, it's going to have a new bounce to them with the Australian made logo and we will have the new wattle logo there to help that brand along as well.
JOURNALIST
So both logos?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
No, it will just be the Australian made. Some of those products are quite small, they can only get one brand on them, you know.
JOURNALIST
It just seems more confusing.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Well, as I say, the love of the kangaroo will be there on the Australian made products. [Inaudible] and for any people who are looking at a product anywhere in the world, they see that kangaroo, they know it's Australian made, they buy it.
JOURNALIST
Deputy Prime Minister, who do you think will win Eden-Monaro?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Well, that's a matter for the voters. Of course there is just a few days at pre-polling left. Then it's Saturday. Two very good candidates putting their hands up. We've got Trevor Hicks from the National Party. We've got Fiona Kotvojs from the Liberal Party. Now a vote for either one of those, if they are successful, what the voters of Eden-Monaro will get is somebody who sits on the Government benches and when you sit on the Government benches you can make a difference. When you sit on the Government benches have you the ear of the Ministers who make the decisions around the Cabinet table that can build a better future for Eden-Monaro.
So I would urge and encourage those people, when they get their ballot paper, either at pre-poll or on Election Day this Saturday, 4th of July, make sure you vote for a Coalition candidate that can make a difference to your lives.
JOURNALIST
Will enough National preferences flow to the Liberal candidate to allow the Government to win?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
It remains to be seen. As I say, again, a Coalition candidate gets you an ear into the Government. Gets you decisions that will be helpful to your lives. Help the Eden-Monaro electorate and of course, there's been tough times for Eden-Monaro. I know Andrew Constance lives not far from there. He lives in Bega, he lives in that electorate, he understands full well just how important delivery is and of course, today the Federal Government has announced the $100 million first down payment for the drought fund. Of course, rural New South Wales and regional Australia has been hit very hard by the drought. We had the summer from hell and now we've got COVID-19, which has been so disastrous for our economy.
But we're getting through the health implications, we're getting through the economic fallout and we're doing it because people of Australia are doing the right thing. They're downloading the app. By and large, they're social distancing and they're doing all of those things that Premier Berejiklian has just noted but we're not out of harm's way yet. We still need to maintain COVID-safe living, we still need to help the nation through. Not just for our sakes but for others as well, particularly the elderly who are the most vulnerable.
JOURNALIST
Deputy PM, should the GST rate be increased or the GST base be broadened to pay for a decrease in wasteful, inefficient state taxes?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Well, that's not, as I understand it, the New South Wales Government policy and it's not the Federal Government policy. At the moment we're trying to deal with the health implications of COVID-19 and when you look at what we've been able to do as a nation to protect the Australian people, what we've been able to do as far as protecting jobs and engaging people through JobKeeper with their places of employment, it's been exceptional. Compare it to anywhere in the world, anywhere you would like to name and at the moment we're still trying to get people through this health pandemic, this global crisis and we're still of course, trying to make sure that our economy is best protected from the effects of what has been an awful situation.
JOURNALIST
Deputy PM, should it be ruled out then? Should it be ruled out by the Federal or State Governments?
MICHAEL McCORMACK
To change the GST rates you have to have the imprimatur of all the States and Commonwealth. So that's going to take some doing. But at the moment there are other more important issues on the table and they are getting through this health pandemic and making sure that the economy is [inaudible] for the future. And that's what we're doing. That's what the NSW Government is doing. I commend them for what they've done. I commend the National Cabinet process that has worked throughout to protect Australians. That's the first and foremost order of governments is to protect Australians, protect people in their own state and that's what we're doing as Liberal and Nationals making sure [inaudible], building tunnels like this, help jobs, protect the people and work for the future.
JOURNALIST
[Inaudible GST Question]
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
As I stated yesterday, what is important is using this opportunity of the National Cabinet to reduce the burden on our citizens. If there's a better way of doing things which reduces the burden of our citizens, please know that is Liberal Nationals policy. We would like to reduce taxes, we like to make important changes which reduce the [inaudible].
If there is a way forward that we can reduce the overall burden on our citizens I think that it is an opportune time to look at that [inaudible]. We are always, all governments, it doesn't matter what side of politics they're from, should always [inaudible] to reduce the burden on their citizens and that's exactly what [inaudible] and I think all of us should be able to have these conversations without worrying about going down a path [inaudible]. This is about making sure if there are opportunities for us to reduce the overall burden on our citizens, we should look at that.
As the Deputy Prime Minister said, nothing from the [inaudible] or the States and the Federal Government have agreed, so that's a big if. Asking every single State and Territory, plus the National Government to agree to something moving forward, means there will only be agreed to if it's reducing the overall burden of our citizens and then it's worthwhile looking at those things.
JOURNALIST
[Inaudible GST Question]
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
No, what we would do as New South Wales is always look for opportunities which, can I stress, reduce the burden on our citizens. In fact, since we've been in government, we've been able to reduce the burden on our State's citizens by in excess of $2 billion of taxation, whether it's reducing payroll tax, whether it's reducing or abolishing various non-residential stamp duties. We've managed to reduce the burden of our citizens and we won't support any measure which doesn't continue to reduce that burden.
JOURNALIST
This isn't just about increasing the GST in a vacuum though, it's about increasing the rate or broadening the base and then using that money to change taxes elsewhere. [Inaudible] that you will seek to do or will you rule that out?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
All New South Wales will seek to do is consider options that reduce the burden on our citizens.
JOURNALIST
So no increase in the GST rate or a broadening of the base?
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
Well, I said, we won't support anything which increases the burden on our citizens. But please know that there are so many taxes in New South Wales, I always get complaints about payroll taxes, taxing workers, stamp duty stops people getting into the market, land tax is a burden on people trying to pay for their retirement. These are all burdens on our citizens. If we find ways to reduce the burden, we should consider that.
It would be inappropriate for governments not to use this opportunity through the National Cabinet to consider ways in which we can reduce the burden. But, look, the public has insurance. The insurance is that every single State and Territory, there's a political persuasion, Liberal, Labor, so every single State and Territory leader plus the national leader, the Prime Minister, has to agree to anything before it can happen. That is a great insurance for our citizens. Nothing will get through the gates if it doesn't reduce the overall burden.
JOURNALIST
[Inaudible Question]
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
I don't know enough about it, [Inaudible].
JOURNALIST
I have a question about the transport system, public transport capacity, as people begin to return to work. How has it been going in the morning and afternoon peak and are you concerned about a COVID-outbreak on our public transport system?
ANDREW CONSTANCE
I'll tell you what [inaudible]. Complacency is going to lead to outbreaks which will lead to people losing their lives, it's that simple. And particularly in transport, a high concentration of people, [inaudible]. Between the decals, the trip planning app information, making sure [inaudible] capacity, additional services, over 4,000 additional services. [Inaudible] we've got to live with this thing and so, look, we're easing some of the restrictions in terms of capacity on our transport [inaudible]. If we see a problem we've got that much CCTV across the network, we've seen marshals there to start to protect people.
But there's got to be a degree of responsibility on the part of everybody to play their role and if you see crowded bus or a crowded train, wait for the next service, it will only be a couple of minutes away. We want everybody to be safe. We have no evidence of community transmission brought about by the New South Wales transport system and that's really important. But that's due to great work that's been done in terms of our transport staff, our front-line staff and our commuters who are doing the right thing. So, yes, we've eased it off today, a little bit. Green dots are what matters. 450,000 of them across the network [inaudible].