Press Conference Transcript: Julia Gillard
Julia Gillard
posted Friday, 27 August 2010
PM: Can I thank everybody for coming along. As people are aware the Independents, Mr Windsor, Mr Oakeshott and Mr Katter sought access to the costings of the Government’s and Opposition’s election policies and the impact that has on the Budget bottom line. Of course the Budget bottom line was most recently disclosed in the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook.
I sought advice from the Secretary of Prime Minister and Cabinet on that matter, and it was apparent from that advice, that it would require amending the Caretaker Conventions as we have generally known them to be.
In those circumstances I wrote to Mr Abbott on Wednesday, Wednesday afternoon, seeking his agreement to amend the Caretaker Conventions and enclosing for him a copy of the advice that had been provided to me by the Secretary of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Mr Abbott yesterday sought some further clarification of the material and further clarification by way of letter was provided.
Initially I had asked Mr Abbott to respond to me on this matter by five o’clock yesterday. Mr Abbott’s office contacted mine and sought further time, specifically further time till nine o’clock this morning, I agreed with that.
Around nine o’clock this morning Mr Abbott’s office sought some further time, which I agreed to and that further time has been extended to Mr Abbott this morning.
Mr Abbott has now responded to me in writing and I have written back to him. I am pleased to report that Mr Abbott has generally agreed that the Independents should be able to get the material that they seek and I welcome Mr Abbott’s general agreement to that.
Mr Abbott in his correspondence to me did seek to put a series of further conditions on this matter, in addition to those new conventions that had been recommended by the Secretary of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Specifically Mr Abbott has sought that any costings assumptions or information, background information, that is provided by the Opposition to Treasury or Finance to assist with the costings of their policies not be provided to either my office of the Treasurer’s office, and of course I’ve agreed to that.
Mr Abbott has sought access to a full costing of the Minerals Resource Rent Tax and the National Broadband Network. I’ve advised Mr Abbott that those full costings are disclosed in the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook, but if he seeks to have a briefing from Treasury and Finance for a more detailed assessment of those Budget figures then of course that will be made available to him.
Mr Abbott then raised some concerns about where information might go arising from this process. I have indicated to Mr Abbott that it is my view that the Independents should be able to participate in these briefings, what they say publically about the information obtained is then a matter for them.
I believe on this basis the matter is now resolved. Clearly, the Independents - Mr Oakeshott, Mr Windsor, Mr Katter – have sought this information in circumstances where their votes and their attitudes may be critical to who forms the next government in this country. In those circumstances, I think it was appropriate that each of them, where they will be asked to guarantee supply, seek to have full information on costings and on Budget figures. I think that is appropriate.
I think, inevitably, whatever decisions Mr Oakeshott, Mr Windsor and Mr Katter come to, they will be asked why they made those decisions. Consequently I think they do need to be able to freely and publically report on any matter that may have fed into their decisions.
Can I say I understand we are in an unusual set of circumstances, having said that, stable and effective Government continues. In these circumstances, I believed it was appropriate to facilitate the request of the Independents. I’m glad that we seem to have worked our way through to an endpoint where their request will be facilitated.
From the Government’s point of view, can I very clearly say this: the Government is happy to be transparent about its election policy costings, the election policy costings as checked by Treasury, and the impact of the Government’s election policies on the Budget bottom line. We have sought to be transparent about those things by participating in the Charter of Budget Honesty process in the election campaign, we will be transparent about all of the costings of our policies and the impact on the Budget bottom line now.
Very briefly, on another matter, I have this morning met with Senator Bob Brown and the incoming Member for Melbourne, Adam Bandt. We have had some positive and constructive discussions and those discussions will continue next week.
I’m very happy to take questions. Phil?
JOURNALIST: Could you explain exactly what information the Independents will get, specifically will they get access to any information in the red book or the blue book?
PM: What they have asked for, and let’s just be very clear about this, what they’ve asked for is briefings on the costings and impacts of Government and Opposition election promises and policies on the Budget, that is what they will receive.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister-
PM: Yes
JOURNALIST: You had discussions with Senator Bob Brown and Adam Bandt today. Last night on Lateline Senator Brown said that the Government ought to consider and alliance with the Greens. Are you considering an alliance with the Greens, are you considering the possibility of a Green Minister as part of your discussions and have you canvassed that with Senator Brown.
PM: Well first and foremost I said to you right at the start of this that it wasn’t my intention to negotiate through the media. We have had positive and constructive discussions. But what is my aim in all of this, my aim in all of this is to provide a stable and effective Government and obviously every step of the way that will guide every decision the Government takes in the matter.
JOURNALIST: Would you have stable and effective Government if you had a Greens member of Cabinet?
PM: Well look I will continue to have discussions respectfully, confidentially, work through. I have given you an undertaking that when those discussions are at an end, that every aspect of any agreement will be publically disclosed. I will honour that undertaking.
I’m not going to play rule-in, rule-out games along the way, as intriguing as they may be for the media. My aim here is stable and effective Government in the national interest, that is guiding me every step of the way and it has certainly guided the approach I’ve taken to facilitating the request of the Independents and indeed, it’s guided the approach I’ve taken in facilitating Mr Abbott’s requests for more time to deal with the matter.
Phil Coorey.
JOURNALIST: Can I just clarify with the figures the Independents are going to get, does that just include the costings that Treasury has made including the estimates, stuff that hasn’t been submitted, or has Mr Abbott agreed to submit stuff that he didn’t submit so it could be costed more accurately?
PM: I think it is inherent in what Mr Abbott has said, that he will submit material as necessary so costings of every Government and every Opposition election policy and the impact of the total range of Government and the total range of Opposition policies can be disclosed on the Budget bottom line, as the bottom line was made public in the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook. For the Government side of course, because we’ve been transparent every step of the way, people are basically in possession of that information. For Mr Abbott, because they did not file in the broad, their policies for appropriate costing, of course that information will be new.
JOURNALIST: Did Mr Abbott raise the question of the police investigation?
PM: No he did not, not in his correspondence to me.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister have you had discussions with the Greens about providing them with access to these briefings and other Independents who may make a decision, Mr Crook or Andrew Wilkie, and do you have any comments at all to make about Steve Fielding, another one who seems to playing into the equation on stable Government about his threat on a gridlock in the Senate?
PM: Well let’s just take it a step at a time. It is only from Mr Oakeshott, Mr Windsor and Mr Katter that I have had a request of this nature. I’ve therefore taken every step I can to facilitate the request.
On Senator Fielding’s statements which were reported in the media today – in the past I’ve worked constructively with Senator Fielding. The only reason we have the Fair Work Act in this country instead of Mr Abbott’s WorkChoices is because I was able to work with Senator Fielding, amongst others, of course I worked with the Greens and worked with Senator Xenophon as well, to deliver the Fair Work Act through the Parliament. Obviously we are working through, my aim is for stable and effective Government, and as Prime Minister I believe I have worked with Senator Fielding in the past and should circumstances arise that I am the Prime Minister of the new Government, then I would look to work with him in the future.
On the question of other Independents, and I do think it should be noted, I indicated that I had had a telephone discussion with Mr Crook, the incoming Member for O’Connor. I do note, and these are his words not mine, that he said today “in every news report and press report we see my number is being allocated in with the Coalition and it shouldn’t be.” So I do agree with the assessment inherent in your question that he is an Independent and should be treated as such.
Latika.
JOURNALIST: Are you setting yourself a timeframe at all for when you would like to see formation of a minority Government should it be you that leads one, and are you considering (inaudible) of a fresh election and what would you have to do to get to that point?
PM: I think the Australian people want to see us strive to form a stable and effective Government for the next three years. We’ve just had an election, the Australian people have voted in that election, I think it’s incumbent upon us now to strive to form a stable and effective Government and that is exactly what I am doing.
As for timeframes, obviously I am not in a position to set timeframes. We’ve got a number of close contests to resolve, the timeframes for counting votes and assessing electoral outcomes are in the hands of the Australian Electoral Commission, not in my hands, and of course that’s appropriate, they shouldn’t be anywhere near my hands and they’re not, and obviously in terms of the discussions with the three Independents, with Mr Wilkie, with the Greens and Mr Crook, those discussions will take some time, but stable and effective Government does continue.
Paul Bongiorno.
JOURNALIST: Is it your advice that Treasury will be able to meet Bob Katter’s deadline for these costings, I think it was close of business Monday?
PM: Look I’m not in a position to set deadlines on this, that’s a question of Treasury doing the work, I don’t have any advice on timeframes for you.
JOURNALIST: There is one point that Tony Abbott made that he wants these costings not to go to you but to the Independents. In the Charter of Budget Honesty, the Opposition has to lodge their costings with the Office of Prime Minister. This of course was very agreeable to Coalition when they were in Government, not such when they’re in Opposition, would you want to amend this to-
PM: Look, thank you for the question, and I want to be absolutely clear about it. I don’t seek access to Mr Abbott’s costing material whilst he is working with Treasury to have his policies properly costed. But I would say this: when Treasury is at the end of that process, I believe every Australian should have access those costings. Every Australian has access to the Government’s costings, every Australian should have access to Mr Abbott’s costings, done by Treasury. I think that that is fundamental to the national interest and Mr Abbott should agree to that.
JOURNALIST: But that’s not part of this agreement is it?
PM: This agreement is about the access of the Independents to these briefings. What they then do with this material, I say, should be a matter for them. But separate to this, of course, we have proceeded with this transparently, absolutely transparently. I believe Australians are entitled to know what the Government’s election policies cost and their impact on the Budget bottom line and they do. I think Australians are entitled to know what Mr Abbott’s policies cost and their impact on the Budget bottom line; currently Australians do not. Through this process, that material in my view should be released to all Australians and it just seems to me that Mr Abbott cannot find a credible objection to that.
Malcolm Farr.
JOURNALIST: Presumably these briefings will go ahead before the writs are returned, before the count in finalised? And back to timing, we’re talking about weeks here aren’t we, this isn’t a process that can be knocked off in a few days?
PM: You’re putting to me questions about timing, and you know, the truth is there are other people who are relevant to the timing here. The Australian Electoral Commission, the resolution of close contests, of course the view that the Independents, the Greens, Mr Wilkie, Mr Crook, take to working through the issues.
Yes at the back.
JOURNALIST: Why won’t you tell us about what’s been said in the discussions with The Greens? Surely the public has a right to know what is being discussed by the people voted for by the public?
PM: Look, I said I wasn’t going to negotiate or have discussions through the media, that I was going to be transparent about any agreements entered in to and I will be.
JOURNALIST: Just back on your answer to my question before. Who would have the power to release this information? Is it only the three Independents or would you find, construct or manufacture a way for those costings of both sides to be released?
PM: Let’s be clear. The Independents will get the briefings. What they then do with the information is a matter for them –
JOURNALIST: Only for them?
PM: And only for them. And I would ask you to direct your questions to them. The Independents will have the briefings. What they do with the information will be a matter for them. Separately to that, from me to the Australian public – absolute transparency. What I’m asking is, separately to this briefings process for the Independents for Mr Abbott, is he intending to be transparent with the Australian public or try and hide his costings? That’s a question that needs to be directed to him.
JOURNALIST: (Inaudible)
PM: We’ll just take Louise because she did try before and I favoured Malcolm which may not have been wise but anyway. I’ll leave others to judge that.
JOURNALIST: I just wondered if, is this a sort of one off sort set of briefings or do you see this process continuing if, for instance, you are able to form a Government with the Independents? And, have they got access to all the Departments they have asked for or is it basically Treasury and Finance for the costings?
PM: This is, this is, if I can take you back to the Independents’ letter, there were seven items. This is the answer to item number one.
JOURNALIST: (inaudible).
PM: No, no, item number two was the other Departments and in my correspondence with them I asked them to perhaps clarify the ambit of what they were seeking in those briefings. As you would be aware, when we’re talking about, for example, health expenditure, we’re you know, talking about a lot of stuff and if we can confine it then I think that’s in everybody’s interest. Theirs, so they get exactly what they want and the Department’s in terms of preparing for the briefing, so they don’t bring everybody who knows everything about the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme only to find the questions are perhaps on hospital costs. So I’m still waiting for a response to that.
JOURNALIST: (inaudible)
PM: Look, in terms of arrangements, should I or Mr Abbott be able to form a Government coming out of these discussions then, you know, what is agreed for the future I think will come out of the discussions.
JOURNALIST: PM and C has recommended that you follow certain guidelines on changes or potential changes to the Caretaker Provisions. Will you continue to observe those guidelines?
PM: You’ll see in the PM and C advice, I think you’re referring to Attachment C –
JOURNALIST: The suggestion that you consult the Leader of the Opposition before the Independents –
PM: Yes, of course, Government decisions in this period, for things that may require an urgent decision by the Government, I will be abiding by the Caretaker Conventions which require me to consult Mr Abbott.
JOURNALIST: And changes to the Caretaker Provisions?
PM: I’ve consulted with Mr Abbott for days now on this and I would take that approach to any further changes.
JOURNALIST: Just a question on Andrew Wilkie, have you taken the liberty of preparing a folder for him on the (inaudible) his electorate?
PM: Oh look, I’m very happy to be transparent with everyone about what the Government’s positive plan for the nation’s future means for their electorates, including Mr Wilkie. Phil Coorey, last one, you’re being very cheeky.
JOURNALIST: Just on the correspondence with Mr Abbott where you refer to the Independents and what they do with the information. Is there anything in the correspondence with Mr Abbott that gives him the right to gag them from going public?
PM: Well look, you would see in my letter of the 27th of August that my view is that there should not be any conditions placed on these three individuals relating to the disclosure of information received in the briefings. For Mr Abbott’s view, obviously you will have to ask Mr Abbott. I think, I don’t want to help you do your job, that would be very inappropriate as well but I think there may be some public interest in Mr Abbott being as transparent about the correspondence as I’ve been with you today. Just like there is some great deal, a great deal, of public interest in, separate to any of this, Mr Abbott being transparent with the Australian public about the cost of his election policies and the impact on the budget bottom line. The Government has been doing that, will do that, will continue to do that. I believe in that transparency. I’m certainly asking Mr Abbott to be as transparent, open and honest with the Australian people as I’m prepared to be.
Thank you.
Tags: Caretaker, Gillard, Government, Julia, Negotiation