Doorstop Interview, Brisbane

SUBJECTS: Free TAFE; 2032 Brisbane Olympics; The Liberal National Coalition; Superannuation; MRH-90 Aviation Safety Investigation Report. 

JULIE-ANN CAMPBELL, MEMBER FOR MORETON: Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Julie-Ann Campbell. I'm the Federal Member for Moreton. Welcome everyone to the Acacia Ridge TAFE. Where we are standing is in fact the largest trade training centre in the entirety of the Southern Hemisphere. I'm very proud that it's here in Acacia Ridge, a place that is special to my heart, because when I first moved to the south side, this was the place that I chose to call home. And when it comes to this government, I'm incredibly proud to be part of a Labor government, to have the Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles with us here today as part of a government that is delivering on making Free TAFE permanent. And making Free TAFE permanent is important because places like this not only deliver the critical skills that we need in things like building, construction, manufacturing, engineering, but what they also do is make sure that we have the skills that the country needs to build more homes and make housing more affordable, but also to make sure that we've got clear manufacturing and the ability to build things here in this country. So I'm delighted today to be able to introduce you to our Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, a great advocate of TAFE, a great advocate of training and a great advocate of accessible and affordable skills for south siders.

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, Jules, and it is just a delight to be here with Julie-Ann Campbell, our new Member for Moreton. And Jules is going to make a huge contribution to the Federal Parliament and to our team in Canberra. And it's great to be here at the Acacia Ridge campus of TAFE Queensland, where so much fantastic work is being done, where you are watching, literally, people's lives being transformed as they take up the opportunity of Free TAFE. During the course of the last term of government, 109,000 Queenslanders took up the opportunity of pursuing Free TAFE that was being offered by the Albanese Government – and that was in areas such as construction, almost 9,000 people pursuing construction trades. 23,000 people pursuing training in the care economy – both areas where there is really critical need. And if you think about what big challenges we have in terms of constructing more houses in Australia, but when you think about also the challenges that there will be in preparing Brisbane and this state for the 2032 Olympics, construction is obviously a really important skill set, a really important area, and there's so many opportunities for a great career there, but Free TAFE is playing its part in relation to that. And we are watching our care economy grow, and so more people receiving the training that they need in that area is fundamentally important as well. A key commitment for our government in this term is to make Free TAFE permanent. We will ensure that that happens, we will enshrine this in legislation, and we will make it happen – from 2027 100,000 Free TAFE places across the country each and every year. That is a life changing policy. It is literally transforming the careers of people as we speak. And we have met so many people, not just here at Acacia Ridge, but indeed around the country who have taken up the opportunity of Free TAFE, who wouldn't have studied otherwise but for Free TAFE, but because of that, a really wonderful career is being opened up to them. And that is both improving our economy, it is seeing us as a nation climb the skills and the technological ladder, it improves productivity within our economy and it is absolutely changing people’s lives.

JOURNALIST: Mr Marles, today we’ve seen Sussan Ley and David Littleproud agree to resume talks about the Coalition agreement. What do you make of how all of that has played out?

MARLES: Well look, obviously, this is a very movable feast. There is literally a new story every day when it comes to what is happening in relation to the Coalition and its arrangements, or its non-arrangements. Ultimately, that is a matter for them. What we are focused on after receiving the mandate we have at the last election is the Australian people. The Coalition, no doubt, will be focused on themselves, but the Albanese Government is going to be focused on delivering for the Australian people. It's why we're here today talking about Free TAFE. But it's why we are pursuing all the policies that we have around cost of living; making sure that there is greater access to help, seeing nine out of 10 visits to a GP become bulk billed with the biggest investment in Medicare in the 40 year history of Medicare. Our focus is going to be on the Australian people, and we'll watch the Coalition be completely consumed by themselves. 

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible).

MARLES: Firstly, the Olympics are going to be a wonderful moment for Brisbane, a wonderful moment for the state of Queensland, they will be a fantastic moment for our nation. And we are working hand in glove with the Queensland government to ensure the delivery of a fantastic Olympics in 2032. We've committed $3.4 billion to facilities for the Olympics and we will work closely with the Crisafulli Government in relation to how that is put forward. And that's in addition to the $12.4 billion that we've committed to the various transport infrastructure projects around the state, which are going to be really important to see these Olympics delivered. But you know, we are really excited about what the Olympics will represent for Brisbane and for the nation, and we'll be working very closely with the Queensland government to see their delivery. 

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible) but I've just had a question sent through, and a new letter from Senator McKenzie to Senator Cash would suggest that Jacinta Price’s defection blew up the Coalition. Are the Coalition subjecting themselves to decades in opposition? 

MARLES: Well, again, this is a matter for the Coalition and what we are seeing here is the Coalition completely obsessed with themselves. We'll let the Coalition do all of that. What we're going to do is be focused on the Australian people. It's why we're here right now talking about Free TAFE. It's why we'll be talking about Medicare. It's why we will be focused on cost of living challenges. Ultimately, the Coalition will be obsessed with themselves and we'll leave that to them. 

JOURNALIST: Mr Marles, Philip Lowe has said that the latest plans that tax unrealised capital gains isn’t good public policy. What do you make of those comments?

MARLES: Well, what we have seen, I think, really, during the course of the federal election was a smear campaign in relation to this policy. To be clear, this policy was announced two years ago. It's been in the public domain ever since then. It applies to a very small percentage of superannuants, about 0.5% of superannuants, those who have superannuation balances of more than $3 million. And for those people there will still be a tax concession associated with their superannuation, it just won't be as generous as what it had been in the past. This is about making sure that our superannuation system is as fair as possible, which is an important measure in terms of prudently managing the Budget bottom line, which is what we have been doing since the moment that we came to office back in May of 2022. But this is a policy which applies to a very small number of people, which has been in the public domain now for two years. 

JOURNALIST: So it’s not something you’re going to reconsider?

MARLES: No, as I say, this is a policy that has been in the public domain for two years and something that was taken to the election. We're going to proceed. 

JOURNALIST: The Defence Flight Safety Bureau report into the Taipan crash on 28 July 2023 has been released. Have you read the report and what do you make of it? And do you think the recommendations go far enough? And do you expect another tragedy (inaudible)? 

MARLES: Well firstly, I appreciate the question so let me say a few things. Firstly, we very much thank the Defence Flight Safety Bureau for the work that it's done in producing this report. Their efforts have been thorough, they have been tireless and Defence accepts all 46 recommendations that are made as part of this report. And that's probably the most important statement that I can make right now. It is one of four investigations in relation to the tragic incident which occurred and so I am loathe to speak more extensively in relation to this prior to the other investigations being completed and the other reports being handed down, in particular the report of the IGADF. But it is a really important step in the process of understanding all that occurred and ensuring that we learn everything from it. I would observe that the four crew who tragically lost their life, I am absolutely certain, were brave and selfless to the end. And in this moment, of course, our thoughts are very much with their families, and we continue to work with them. But as I say, I note that this is just one of four reports, or four investigations which will all lead to reports to be handed down. It’s the first. It is a significant moment. But there is a little way to go before we really have all of the information in front of us. 

JOURNALIST: Do you need to wait for all of those investigations to wrap up before you can say whether the recommendations of the DFSB report go far enough to prevent another tragedy like this? 

MARLES: No. To be absolutely clear in relation to the 46 recommendations of this report right now, we accept all of them. No ifs, no buts and Defence has made that– 

JOURNALIST: Do they go far enough?

MARLES: Yes and Defence has made clear that we accept the recommendations of the report. It has a particular mandate in terms of the way in which the investigation has gone. It's particularly focused on why the accident occurred. The other investigations look at this from a different perspective and in ways– look at it in ways which are more extensive. And so we will let those investigations play out. But on its own terms, this is a really important report. I very much thank the Defence Flight Safety Bureau for the work they've done and we do accept every one of the recommendations that have been made. 

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible). 

MARLES: Well as I say, it is really clear that for these crew they were brave and selfless to the end. And I think it is really important to note that in this moment. Our thoughts have been with their families from the moment this incident occurred. They engaged in the highest degree of professionalism in terms of their service in the Australian Defence Force, and they were brave and selfless to the end. 

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible). 

MARLES: Well, Talisman Sabre is a fundamentally– well it is the most significant exercise that the Australian Defence Force does every two years. It is not exclusively, but it is largely based in Queensland and it is a really important exercise in terms of our bilateral relationship with the United States. It begun as bilateral defence exercise with the US, but now involves a number of other countries. But in terms of the certification, there are a whole lot of skills that occur within the Australian Defence Force. It is the single most important exercise that we undertake. We are deeply focused on safety in every aspect of what Defence does. But I also note that what Defence does is dangerous, and what we’ve just been talking about is an example of that, and it is part of the selfless nature of those who wear our nation’s uniform. And it is really important that we do apply all the safety mechanisms possible in relation to the training exercises that we do. But it's also important that we train for real, and that matters. The way in which we build the capability of our Defence Force is to do extensive and (inaudible) training. So that is very dangerous work. 

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible).

MARLES: We seek to employ the highest standards of safety in all that we do. I mean, the existence of the IGADF and all the investigations we do around any incident is about ensuring that we learn every lesson that we possibly can and that we apply the highest standards of safety possible in relation to the exercises that we do. Talisman Sabre is a really important exercise. It is a high-end exercise, meaning we do very complex activities amongst ourselves, but also with our partners and allies, in particular the United States. There is an inherent danger associated with actions in the Australian Defence Force. But in saying that, every level of precaution we can put in place in relation to safety we are. Every lesson that we’ve learned from every single incident that occurs we do. And all of that will be applied to this Talisman Sabre which I have no doubt will be an absolute success. 

JOURNALIST: Deputy Prime Minister, what is the government doing to assist or support New South Wales (inaudible)? 

MARLES: Well, what we've seen with the New South Wales floods is obviously a very significant event and firstly, our thoughts are very much with all of those who have been affected and particularly those who, at this point, where people have been missing. Our thoughts are very much with all of them and their families. Defence stands ready to provide all the assistance necessary in support of the relief effort. We are working very closely with the New South Wales State Emergency Service. We're doing this through National Emergency Management Australia and Kristy McBain, our new Minister for National Emergency Management has spoken about this today. To this point in time, one Defence contracted helicopter has been engaged in the effort in relation to these floods, but we stand ready to provide whatever other assistance is required in terms of providing all the necessary assistance that is needed as we work very closely with Emergency Management Australia. 

ENDS