Press Conference - Edith Cowan University

CLARE POLLOCK: … absolute pleasure to welcome you all here today, and to acknowledge the dignitaries who have gathered here with us. We've got the Honourable Roger Cook, MLA, Premier of Western Australia. Honourable Catherine King, MP, Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Honourable Rita Saffioti, MLA, Deputy Premier Treasurer and Minister for Transport and Tourism. Honourable John Kerry, Minister for Planning, Lands, Housing and Homelessness in [indistinct] Perth. And also I'd like to acknowledge Mr Chris Palandri, who is Regional Managing Director of Multiplex, who of course is ECU’s City's head contractor, and we are also joined today by the University's Chancellor Gaye McMath. Thank you all for being here.

We had a great opportunity yesterday to celebrate this wonderful occasion as we get to the topping out ceremony, to have ECU’s lead cultural advisor, Doctor Richard Walley, an OAM, and his son Bolton perform a traditional smoking ceremony of sorts, for the ancient ceremony, as you hopefully know, connects us history, connects us with our country and strengthens the bonds that we have with the shared celebration of this important milestone. We couldn't, unfortunately, do that smoking ceremony up here today for road safety reasons, but I'm delighted that we're honoured to be joined by [indistinct] Elder, Geri Hayden, who's kindly going to welcome us to country. Geri. 

GERI HAYDEN: [Indistinct]… As you come in, across the East you will see, you will pass the [indistinct], the Black Hills. Europeans called it Darling Scarp. As you come down into [indistinct], you will see the devil [indistinct] where the fresh water meets the salty water. The mouth of Fremantle, flowing up, goes all the way through, down through the Dalgaro to Cannington. Up the Avon River, down the Midland area. The Helen Ranges. That's not our country. And I want to just read you something about this area. [First Nations language spoken]… A long time ago, this was my Nunga’s homeland and hunting grounds, and long into the future, this will always be our home grounds. [First Nations language spoken]… to gather our belongings. [First Nations language spoken]… Our purpose for the future, for that [indistinct], hope for our people. [First Nations language spoken]… filling their hearts. I just thank you very much for today.

CLARE POLLOCK: Thank you, [indistinct]…

[Applause] 

CLARE POLLOCK: Thank you, Geri. I'd now like to invite the Premier to say a few words.

ROGER COOK: Thank you, Vice Chancellor. It's great to be here down at the new city-based ECU campus. I'm joined, of course, by the Federal Infrastructure Minister, Catherine King, Deputy Premier and Treasurer, Rita Saffioti, Lands Minister and Member for Perth, John Kerry, and of course, the Vice-Chancellor, Clare Pollock is here, and it's great to be joining Chris Palandri and his team at Multiplex to celebrate the topping out at this great structure that we have here. So the campus has now reached its full structural height and you can see our vision unfolding, our vision, a vision that we share with ECU and with the Federal Government as part of this great funding partnership to really bring to life our inner city campus. The internal fit out and finishing works will now take place over the course of 2025, so it's ready to take students at the beginning of the academic year in 2026. But already, when that happens, we'll see 10,000 people coming here on a daily basis. But already we have 600 people working here to bring this structure to life, 12 per cent of those are apprentices and trainees who are getting a great start on their career working on this state of the art, iconic new inner city building. The ECU City will be Perth's first fully comprehensive inner city university. We're so excited about the role that it will play to bring vibrancy, to bring life, and to bring new economic activity to the CBD. This super- 11 super level campus will integrate industries, businesses and emerging technologies under one roof in the heart of the Perth CBD. As I said, it's jointly funded by my Government and the Albanese Labor Government and ECU and will attract 10,000 students and staff here each day so you can appreciate the incredible contribution that it will make to the life, the vibrancy and the economy of Perth's CBD. We are so excited to see this, project now starting to take shape. It's literally thrown itself out of the ground and we are making such great progress, very much welcoming the opportunity to see students come here at the beginning of 2026 and to see our vision, our vision for the city starting to unfold. And now I’ll hand you over to Catherine King.

[Applause]

CATHERINE KING: Thanks very much, Premier, and it's so fantastic to be back here in Perth and back here, particularly at ECU for the topping out ceremony. I too would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we gather, and I pay my respects to elders, past and present, and I thank you very much for welcoming us to these lands here today. We're also here, obviously with John Kerry. John, Rita, and I were here when we did the sod turn on this facility, and it feels like it was just yesterday. Proudly on the wall in my Parliament House office in Canberra, I have the shovel that we did the sod turn for this really important project. It's over an $800 million project today we're celebrating, which is a really formal part of infrastructure building, the topping out ceremony where the structural elements of the building are now completed. And now all of the attention will turn to those wonderful trades that will do all of the fit out and the internal parts of this building. What this building really is about is not just bringing education into the heart of the CBD, but is really transforming the way in which the CBD actually operates, bringing it in line with public transport, making sure we bring life back into the city. This is a strong partnership between the Western Australian Government, ECU and the Albanese Federal Labor Government. It's a partnership that we're very, very proud of and one that is working extremely well.

I'm also here to do two other things which are, again, show the strength of this partnership between the Cook and the Albanese Labor governments. Today, alongside John, will be announcing that the Albanese Labor Government is putting $105 million into infrastructure for new housing development. That will bring on in the near distant near future, 28,000 new homes. The money that is coming out of my portfolio for those 28,000 new homes is to really connect the sewer, the water and the power infrastructure and road infrastructure, and there are 21 different projects right the way across Perth and the Western Australia, including out in Bunbury. We know that supply of housing is critical, building houses so that people have an opportunity to access affordable rental properties, but also to get their first home. I'm really delighted to be partnering and making that announcement today.

The second announcement I'll be making today is that we are also announcing Western Australia's successful grantees for Thriving Suburbs Program. When we came to government, we had a great program, great program to get money for community infrastructure out into our regions, but our suburbs have been really neglected, and you can see that there was a real infrastructure deficit with community infrastructure for some of our existing older suburbs and some of our very urban suburbs. So today, the Albanese Government, and I'm announcing on behalf of them, that we're putting $79 million into 13 projects. These projects come across our sporting aquatic centres, community arts precincts, again in partnering largely with local councils. Coonana is a beneficiary with an aquatic $15 million for an aquatic centre there. These projects are really important and are part of our investment in trying to make sure that not just that our suburbs are liveable, great places for people to live, but they're also partnering to make sure we have social inclusion in this country. Local government is a terrific delivery partner for us, and those investments mean- they're the places where people learn to swim. They're the places where parents take their children to interact with each other, and they know and learn how to get on with each other and learn about teamwork. So these investments we're making here in Western Australia today: $105 million for infrastructure for new housing, 28,000 homes; $79 million for some 13 projects; again, when you look around us here, this investment- over 800 million in the ECU campus. The Albanese Government is delighted to be working with the Cook Government on building the infrastructure to really grow this city.

RITA SAFFIOTI: Thank you very much, and I welcome Catherine King to WA, a great partner in delivering so many projects around the states. In relation to this ECU city campus, it's an incredible to see the transformation in such a short period of time. Of course, I remember when ECU first approached the state and the Federal Government about its plan to want to relocate into the city centre, and we very much have welcomed the opportunity to work with ECU and the Federal Government to build this new inner city campus. Of course, as has been outlined, it will completely change the city. We'll have thousands of people coming into the city – students, our staff – and it will completely transform this site. Of course, it's integrated with our central bus station. It's also connected to our rail station, and it also creates even more activities around Yagan Square. This is a really exciting project, and a big congratulations to all the teams involved, to Multiplex for the work they've done to see this transformation happen so quickly. This was a true partnership between the federal, the state and the university, and now we've seen such incredible progress.

Can I also welcome the additional funding, $105 million into new land supply? Minister John Kerry will talk about it more, but this is, again, our government working across government through our housing supply unit, working with the Minister for Housing, Utilities and of course, the Federal Government to identify areas where we need to bring forward water and power infrastructure to fast track land supply. So across all parts of the housing supply issue, we've been working really hard. Now, this $105 million will bring forward new infrastructure, bring forward new housing developments and support housing supply in the state. Again, we've done that in a collaborative way, working across government with the Federal Government to identify the sites. Again, the sites, many of them are in our growing suburbs, the corridors where thousands of people are wanting to move into new homes like the Ellenbrook-Brabham corridor, like down Twyford and also up the [indistinct]. So a lot of existing corridors where we have great infrastructure, but we need the housing-targeted infrastructure, the water, the power and in some cases some more roads to support new housing.

JOHN KERRY: It shouldn't be underestimated how important this city campus means for Perth. It will bring in thousands of people, and across the CBD we will have people spilling out day and night. It will be a fantastic hub of activity, including eight whopper performance spaces, which will see over 300 performances aligned each year. This is the game changer that we need. We need more people coming into the city day and night. That is the answer to creating a more vibrant destination for both locals and tourists. And this new city campus is also fuelling a new student accommodation boom. We are seeing new student accommodation being built right in the heart of the city as a direct result of this investment. So again, this is about having more people in our city day and night, up to 10,000 staff and students. We simply should not underestimate how important it is.

I also just want to welcome the $105 million investment in new infrastructure to unlock land. This is another demonstration of how our state and the Federal Government are working together to drive housing supply. This $105 million will fund 21 projects across Perth and regional Western Australia to produce up to 28,000 homes. It will directly fund Water Corp infrastructure, Western Power, other works to de constrain the land that we need for housing. It will also directly fund more social housing construction. I mean, the message is very clear: it is about supply, supply, supply, and as a state government, we are working with the Federal Government to pump out as much land and housing as we can to meet the population demand. I'm happy to take any questions.

JOURNALIST: Sorry, just going to say, the $105 million – is this just similar to the- similar concept to the Infrastructure Development Fund, the $80 million one that the State Government’s got?

JOHN KERRY: So the $80 million infrastructure fund is targeted towards apartments. That provides funding for the head works of individual apartment developments. This is a broader investment in critical projects to unlock supply. So the 21 projects that have been identified are all strategic investments to unlock more land for housing, or in some cases, build more social housing.

CLARE POLLOCK: I'll just say a few words in closing, and if I may, thank the Premier, Deputy Premier, and Minister King and Minister Kerry for their kind words. And I also would like to thank Geri for the welcome to country. Thank you, Geri. On behalf of the university, it's very important for me to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we gather today and collectively pay our respects to elders past and present. And we recognise and respect the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, cultures and histories.

As you've heard, the speakers before me say, this is an incredible day. Topping out represents a significant milestone for the university; it represents a milestone for the city and for the state. We're building, not just the building, and thank you again to Multiplex for their work with us on creating such a remarkable space. We're creating a community and an environment, and it’s a community and environment for learning, for discovery and for engagement. That's what universities are about, and this is what we'll be doing here, right in the heart of the city.

I do want to particularly acknowledge the great work that has been done so far. We've got here in record time. It is amazing. To deliver a project like this on time and on budget is just incredible, and I do want to acknowledge the tradespeople, the designers, the architects and all the other professionals that have worked on this today. This is really going to create a new vision for the ECU. This is a vision which is about engaging with community, engaging with getting our students and our staff engaging across Perth, and it's a new opportunity for people to engage also with our great performers, with our great law academics, with our great industry trained professionals so that we can deliver solutions that are important to the people of Perth and the people of WA. We've got a shared belief in education in WA. People share the belief in education and in discovery and engagement across both federal, state governments and our own university. And we're very proud, because that leads to great discovery and a great place to live and work and play.

We're very excited. We'll be- there'll be another time to come back and see you all again when we open, and we open the doors at the beginning of 2026, so that's going to be a very exciting time. I can tell you the activity on the site is not going to stop. For those of you that come by, please keep an eye on the place and see the new developments. And at this point, I might- happy to take any questions, or I know we've got people behind me also happy to take questions. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Any questions for the Deputy Premier first?

JOURNALIST: Can we do Minister King first?

CATHERINE KING: Yes, you can. You can do whatever you like. Okay – hello, hi.

JOURNALIST: You've announced $180 million in funding today. Why can't you find $500,000 for Sculpture by the Sea?

CATHERINE KING: So can I just say, I know Sculpture by the Sea is an iconic WA event. It is why the Albanese Government invested $2 million post-COVID as part of the RISE program to help them recover – post-COVID, as we know, significant community events were struggling. We then created Creative Australia to keep those decisions at arms-length. What you don't want is politicians like me, I can tell you now, making decisions about what funding should go to arts events or not, and you definitely don't want me doing that I can tell you now. And unfortunately, they've not been successful under that program. I understand that's disappointing and I hope there is a pathway forward for them to continue to hold that iconic event. But that is the investment we made, $2 million already to help them get back on their feet and they're not successful under the Creative Australia program. 

JOURNALIST: What did [indistinct] get?

CATHERINE KING: In terms of the aquatic centre, there was $15 million for the aquatic centre under the program I'm announcing. 

JOURNALIST: So, they got $15 million going to [indistinct], but couldn't find half a million...

CATHERINE KING: Again, these are different programs. I'm announcing today the Thriving Suburbs, which is for physical infrastructure, not for events - physical infrastructure to ensure that we can continue to have people in our suburbs being able to learn to swim, competitions for our school groups being able to happen. They are really important parts of the long term investment we make in physical infrastructure which comes from that involvement.

JOURNALIST: Creative Australia - the founder of the Sculpture by the Sea, criticised Creative Australia for being an east coast centric model. Of 159 grants announced in that round about 12 went to WA - pretty much [indistinct]. 

CATHERINE KING: Well again, what I would say - and again, this isn't my portfolio, this is the Arts Minister's portfolio - we did recognise how important the Sculptures by the Sea is for Western Australia. It's why that $2 million went into Sculptures by the Sea and, again, these decisions are made arms-length from politicians. Creative Australia has made its decisions. I'm sure the organisation will continue to make representations. I do recognise that it's an important cultural event for Western Australia. I've been there myself. I've got a photo of my little boy, who is now 16 and not so little, there as a two-year-old, and I certainly hope there is a pathway for the event to continue. 

But again, today we are making significant announcements and investments into Western Australia to really look at the long term community and cultural infrastructure in our suburbs. 

JOURNALIST: Shouldn't there be some oversight into Creative Australia's decisions though? 

CATHERINE KING: Well, obviously, you don't want politicians making decisions about what's good art or not good art, and that's why the decision was made to have an arms-length grants organisation to make these decisions. 

But we are making significant investments here in Western Australia. Today, announcing $105 million to bring on 28,000 homes, alongside community and cultural infrastructure in our suburbs to ensure that they continue to be great places for people to live and to [indistinct].

JOURNALIST: Does that figure that Dylan quoted concern you, though? Do you think that should warrant some kind of review? 

CATHERINE KING: Again, I'll leave that for a matter for the Minister for Arts, Tony Burke. It is not my portfolio and I don't think it's appropriate for me to comment on the anything that’s in his portfolio.

JOURNALIST: Sorry. The Federal Government though has, effectively, killed off an iconic WA arts-

CATHERINE KING: [Interrupts] The Federal Government put $2 million into Sculptures by the State, and it’s invested here.

JOURNALIST: Why not send…

CATHERINE KING: Are there any other questions? I’ve [indistinct] the answer to that.

JOURNALIST: Why not give them the money outside of Creative Australia?

CATHERINE KING: Again, can I say very clearly, the Federal Government put $2 million into Sculptures by the Sea. We understand and recognise that it's an important cultural event, but they have applied under Creative Australia, a grants program that is arms-length from politicians and unfortunately we're not successful this time. I'm sure the organisation will continue to make representations to the Federal Government, and I hope there is a pathway forward for it. Any other questions on any other matters? 

JOURNALIST: Did Bondi Sculpture by the Sea get funding?

CATHERINE KING: Sorry, I can't hear you. 

JOURNALIST: I'm just wondering if Bondi Sculptures by the Sea [indistinct]…

CATHERINE KING: [Talks over] I wouldn't know. It is not my portfolio so I'm sorry I can't answer that question. 

JOURNALIST: The Sydney program, the Bondi Sculptures by the Sea, seems to attract more philanthropic support. Do you think that's something-

CATHERINE KING: [Interrupts] Again, I'm not the Arts Minister. So, really, that's a question for the Arts Minister for that particular project. 

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Any other questions? 

JOURNALIST: It's not the best look, though, to come to WA…

UNIDENFIED SPEAKER: [Talks over] Have you got any other…

JOURNALIST: …and the Sculpture by the Sea event has been cancelled on the day you’re here. That's a bit of a narrative against the Federal Government, doesn't it? 

CATHERINE KING: Well, the Federal Government today, we are standing here at Edith Cowan University where we have put in over $800 million investment into this facility. We're also announcing today $105 million for a significant uplift in supply of housing. We are also putting in money in our suburbs from- going to local councils across the community, including into arts facilities, which are about long term investments in the liveability. These are the investments that we are making. 

We've put $2 million into Sculptures by the Sea. I understand it is a really significant cultural event here for Western Australia, it's why that $2 million was put in. And there are lots of asks on Federal Government money. This program, we understand, is pretty competitive and I'm sure the Arts Minister will have more to say about that program.

JOURNALIST: But art students who go to ECU city won't be able to have a sculpture show in Perth to show their work.

CATHERINE KING: Again, Today I'm investing over $79 million, including into arts facilities in our suburbs, which will see young people and artists from across the community be able to participate in the arts in the suburbs in which they live. And that's something the Albanese Government is very proud to have done.

JOURNALIST: Premier?

CATHERINE KING: Thank you. 

[audio break]

JOURNALIST: Sorry to harp back on in the nature positive this way but, just to be clear, have you got like an ironclad guarantee from the PM that this thing is dead in this term of government? 

ROGER COOK: Look, I want to make it perfectly clear the PM doesn't call me for permission. My opinion is sometimes sought by those in Canberra, I provide it. And, as you know, we've made our position in relation to nature positive absolutely clear. If you want any further information with regards to that legislation, I suggest you speak to the Federal Government. 

JOURNALIST: Tanya Plibersek, last week, said it could come back in February. How damaging do you think that would be to Labor federally in a federal election next year if it's pushing ahead with that legislation? How many seats would it lose in Western Australia? 

ROGER COOK: Well, I'll leave the political analysis up to others. But I will just say that we are of the view that nature positive represented a risk to our mining industry and a risk to the nation's prosperity. We put that view very firmly to the Federal Government and I- you know, the Federal Government has made its decision, whether it's based on my point of view or a whole range of issues. But that is the decision for the Prime Minister. 

JOURNALIST: Surely your discussions with him, though, involved the political implications of pushing ahead with that legislation? They'd lose seats here, wouldn't they? 

ROGER COOK: No, the politics is for the Prime Minister to resolve. The economics and the impact on Western Australia was the matter of my submission to them.

JOURNALIST: Is Creative Australia biased towards the east coast? 

ROGER COOK: Well look, I'd like to get more detail first in relation to this. We've worked with it- did Sculpture by the Sea for a long time. I, when I was the Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and now the Deputy Premier Minister for Tourism is also continuing to work with them. We've doubled the funding that we've made available to them. There are alternative forms of funding. We, you know, discussed with them corporate support and I was actually instrumental in getting further corporate support for Sculpture by the Sea. We also suggested to them that they could consider staging it in another location where they would be able to attract more funding, again, particularly from the local government authority. 

Now, Sculpture by the Sea has made a decision, they blame that on the Federal Government. I don't have line of sight as to who's to blame in relation to this. But we'll continue to work with sculpture by the sea because it's an event that everyone loves. 

JOURNALIST: Is there any embarrassment, though, that you're picking up a big grant from the feds at the same time that they've lost theirs – the same day? 

ROGER COOK: No, not at all. We all know that there's different arms of government making different decisions on different projects all the time. 

JOURNALIST: Did you consider chipping in the $700,000 black hole? 

ROGER COOK: Well look, I've discovered this issue this morning. No, they haven't come to me. 

JOURNALIST: But you said- sorry, no. 

ROGER COOK: They haven’t come to me.

JOURNALIST: You said you were talking to them prior to this.

ROGER COOK: Prior to this whole event. I mean, I really think you need to actually get some perspective. There's been some accusations made today by the CEO of Sculpture by the Sea that they haven't received a funding grant. In the past we've worked closely with them. We've doubled the funding over recent years to Sculpture by the Sea to try to continue to make it viable in Western Australia, including asking them to consider different locations where they would therefore be able to get more assistance from the local government authority. Now they've got a particular model that they're working to. They've got a particular relationship with Creative Australia. I don't have access to that conversation, but I'm just saying to you, my Government has doubled the assistance to Sculpture by the Sea over the last- over recent years, and we continue to work with them.

JOURNALIST: Is there a suggestion then, that they've been too stubborn or unwilling to move, and they only want to accept Federal Government money?

ROGER COOK: Well, I don't know. I mean, I don't have that insight. You have to ask Sculpture by the Sea in relation to that. I also suggest that you speak to Creative Australia in terms of the reasons for their decision.

JOURNALIST: They refused to provide those reasons.

ROGER COOK: Well –

JOURNALIST: [Interrupts] Should they?

ROGER COOK: Well, I- everyone should be able to account for the decisions they make.

JOURNALIST: Just on a separate topic then, three tiers of government, one's missing. Are you letting politics get in the way of good governance when the city of Perth does play a role in building this building?

ROGER COOK: Well, no, they don't play any role at all. They were –

JOURNALIST: [Interrupts] Weren’t traffic management? [Indistinct]…

ROGER COOK: [Talks over] They were not a funding partner. They were not in any way involved in the funding arrangements between ECU, the Federal Government and my Government.

JOURNALIST: But they did commit $45 million towards enabling this to be built?

ROGER COOK: Well, look, I think you'll find that the biggest beneficiary of this particular project is the people of the city of Perth.

JOURNALIST: On another subject, the vapes laws, health experts are saying that vaping in children is going up. Does that show that both federal and state measures aren't working?

ROGER COOK: Well, look. I mean, I know that the Federal Government went with a much tougher package to the Senate to regulate the availability of vapes in our community. And we know- we've seen what vapes are doing to other countries. It has health impacts. It has detrimental impacts to the communities there. The Greens and the Opposition stopped those tough regulations. So the Government ultimately had to put a legislation through the Parliament, which would still make vapes available without prescription in a chemist and quite frankly, I think that's a failure by the Greens to actually see what's in the interest of the people of Australia. My Government brought in regulations to make sure that they are only available through a pharmacy with a prescription and those are laws which are- we have implemented by regulations which came into effect on the 31st of October. It is not illegal for someone to buy vapes. It is not illegal for someone to have vapes. But under our Tobacco Control Act, we are putting regulations to create extra regulations to stop the insidious spread of vapes in our community.

JOURNALIST: Does that mean it needs to be, like, compliance needs to be strengthened for those selling the vapes? Because at the moment it doesn’t seem to [indistinct]…

ROGER COOK: [Talks over] Well, as- yeah, as I said, the regulations have just been put in place, so obviously we'll be now expecting the Department of Health to go about its work in relation to that.

JOURNALIST: Should a judge have described the DV victim as petulant, volatile, confrontational, defensive and disrespectful in the final judgement?

ROGER COOK: Well, as we all know, family and domestic violence is an insidious issue which impacts everyone in the community, and one of the key things that we need is for people to be heard, for FDV victims to be heard and to not be- have issues, conversations, language put in their faces which will deter them or others from bringing forward their complaints.

UKNOWN SPEAKER: Sorry [indistinct]…

JOURNALIST: [Talks over][Indistinct] heard that she was abused. She was belligerent. She [indistinct] political views by the judge.

ROGER COOK: And so that's why I'm saying that it is important that FDV victims are heard, heard and supported, making sure that their claims and their concerns come forward. And it's not only important for that victim, but it's important for others to know that they can come forward without being unnecessarily judged and criticised simply because they've brought forward a complaint around FDV.

JOURNALIST: Yeah, but then by the same token, he then basically implied that the perpetrator would was- did it because she asked for it in effect. I mean, that's just…

ROGER COOK: That language is completely regrettable, and I don't think it passes the pub test. I don't think people in the community would expect an FDV victim, regardless of the complexities of the background or the issues that they've confronted, or that the perpetrators that were supposedly [indistinct]… that is acceptable.

JOURNALIST: [Talks over] How is he still a judge? How is he still a judge? If he's making commentary like that, how is he still a judge?

ROGER COOK: Well, he's a judge because he's appointed as a judge and a magistrate has independence in the way he applies- he applies the law as a judge and ultimately will be held accountable by the Chief Judge and other measures that we have inside the judicial system to make sure that our courts function properly.

JOURNALIST: And on that basis, should the Chief Justice call him in to scrutinise his comments? Because it's in transcript.

ROGER COOK: Yeah.

JOURNALIST: And consider whether he should continue as a magistrate?

ROGER COOK: Well, look, he should certainly call him in. I don't think that language is suitable.

JOURNALIST: Ambulance ramping hours having- sorry.

ROGER COOK: [Talks over] Yeah, sorry.

JOURNALIST: Have exceeded last year's total. Why aren't they trending down?

ROGER COOK: Well, we measure ambulance ramping hours at the financial years. If you look at 23, 24, it was actually down by over 20 per cent on 22, 23. This is all part and parcel of the impact of the post-COVID period, which puts all hospital systems under pressure. I'm glad we're now starting to see ballots coming into the system. I note that the Leader of the Liberal Party has put these arguments out here today, has highlighted this in a media comment. My question to her is what's your solution? What is your solution to redressing ambulance ramping? Mine is over $800 million of extra investment, which goes down to our virtual [indistinct], which goes to working with hospitals to make sure that they can have better patient flow, and working with our aged care sector to make sure that aged care patients aren't unnecessarily put into the hospital system. We have invested heavily in bringing technology to bear. We're working with the entire system to reduce ambulance ramping. What is the Liberal Party's policy when it comes to healthcare? They have none.

JOURNALIST: Premier, Sculpture by the Sea isn’t the only [indistinct] that's gone up in flames [indistinct]…? So I'm just wondering if you had any take on the boat that became engulfed in flames yesterday?

ROGER COOK: Well, it was very distressing images. And it really goes to the issue of marine safety and making sure that we all do everything we can to make sure that we keep not only ourselves, but the people that we have on board safe as well. I'm glad everyone was able to be rescued in that particular circumstance, but we had another boating incident this morning. So people just need to continue to be reminded that the ocean is dangerous. I know it's great to get out on the water. I know it's great to take people out on the water with you, but you need to continue to make sure you can do everything to keep yourself safe. And we will obviously have the services, the rescue teams, the volunteer rescue services that are there to help you in the event that you do get into strife.

JOURNALIST: In with that- sorry. With the Mindarie boating incident…

ROGER COOK: [Talks over] Yeah.

JOURNALIST: One person looks like they're not in very good condition, critical at the moment, I believe. How much of that serves as a kind of harsh reminder heading into summer?

ROGER COOK: Well, it is a reminder that the ocean can be dangerous. It's a reminder that we need to look after- look out for each other. We need to take precautions. I wish the survivors of that particular incident all the very best in their recovery.

JOURNALIST: The Nationals want the Government to review your regional airfare scheme, [indistinct] flights for residents, out of some concern that it may not be used properly and its kind of blown out in the cost. [Indistinct]…?

ROGER COOK: Well, I can feel someone desperate to get to the microphone, but can I just say if Shane Love doesn't like our cap regional airfare program, well, he can tell the community that. We're very proud of the impact of that program because it provides great cost of living relief to all our regional residents so that they can come to the city. Karratha is a long way away. It's not easy to drive. It's a big urban centre, so it's not surprising we have a large number from there. But I'll hand you over to Minister Saffioti.

RITA SAFFIOTI: Tom. [Laughs]

JOURNALIST: [Indistinct]… How are you going to review it?

RITA SAFFIOTI: We always said that we would be reviewing the Regional Airfare Caps Scheme, but in relation to the accusations, first of all, in relation to the number of flights, approximately less than 10 per cent of the flights from Karratha have became eligible for the regional airfare scheme. That's comparable to the percentages in other cities. And, for example, 25 per cent of the flights from Albany and Esperance are eligible or have been granted through the Regional Airfare Caps Scheme. So we'll obviously continue to review the administration of it. The other key point is in relation to the cap scheme, over 80 per cent of the flights sold are with Virgin and Qantas, where you have to be an eligible member of the- their frequent flyer programs and where the place of residency is very clear. So we're confident with the program. In fact, when I go to regional towns, I get asked, why can't we do it for the one way? Why doesn't it happen? Why does it have to be return? And can they have it from- for family members from the city? So I've been lobbied to make it more generous rather than cut it back.

JOURNALIST: Is that something you're considering, making it more generous?

RITA SAFFIOTI: We're considering making sure that it's sustainable into the future and we believe the having to live in regional WA and having a return flight is the most appropriate measures. So we're very confident with those settings. But we want to make sure and in particular for those airlines that aren't Qantas and Virgin, making sure that the eligibility is very clear. And we continue to work with all the airlines to build on the success. To be honest, out in regional WA this is the number one success- sorry, it's the number one program that people talk to me about it, thanking me for delivering- thanking our government for delivering this program.

JOURNALIST: There's people in the aviation industry, people in the oil and gas industry that think people are taking advantage of this system. This scheme has also blown out four times what it was originally budgeted. Why were you guys so far out in that costing, 19 million, out 65- sorry, up to 85 million? I mean, like that’s a huge discrepancy.

RITA SAFFIOTI: Well, two things. One of them was the increase in the cost of aviation that was happening post-COVID in relation to some of the prices and so that differential between the price we pay and the price the customer pays increased. The second is we underestimated the success of the program and what we saw are thousands and thousands, tens of thousands of Western Australians wanting to be part of the regional airfare cap. But look, when you look at regional WA as I've always said, one of the best things we can do as a Government and as the Premier’s outlined is to support the cost of transport in some parts. That means, of course, supporting through the regional fuel pensioner card, but in other places where driving is not possible or difficult, our regional airfares are a lifeblood to towns, and the feedback that I get from regional residents is it allows them to come and see their elderly parents or sick family members, or helps their kids get to some sporting events, which maybe they would never have been able to do. So my view is that it's been very, very successful. As I said, the only complaints I get out there is to make it more generous rather than less generous and it's actually been, I think, commented by members- former members of the National Party, one of the best things that this Government has ever done.

JOURNALIST: So do you have any concerns that it's been misused?

RITA SAFFIOTI: Not really. I haven't seen any evidence to say that. I've seen high usage, but I haven't seen any evidence. And as I said, 80 per cent of the airfares are through Qantas and Virgin with existing schemes. The other point, which I think is a good figure, is the percentage of the airfares that are actually being flown through the regional airfare cap. It's not out of whack with other cities. In fact, other cities like Albany and Esperance, a higher percentage of those airfares are part of the regional airfares scheme. If that was an outlier, if the Karratha figure was so extraordinary then I'd probably have more concerns.

JOURNALIST: Just on Sculpture by the Sea, are we being short changed by the feds and why didn't the state step in and save it?

RITA SAFFIOTI: Well, we did in- last year when I was asked whether we would continue to support funding for Sculpture by the Sea, and we doubled the funding for Sculpture by the Sea. So we have stepped in, we've doubled the funding. I was unaware of all the interactions in relation to other grant processes, but as Premier said, we have supported Sculpture by the Sea. Both he and I have stepped in to support Sculpture by the Sea. I understand, and I don't know how recent this was, but there were other offers by councils to help make it a sustainable program by council, the local level of government, because, for example, it does really support the local businesses. Sculpture by the Sea is a big economic stimulus for the local businesses in that area, in that community. So from a local government perspective, I know there are other local councils who were offering significant more grant funding to host Sculpture by the Sea, and that was rejected. Now, as Premier said, we do support the project. We've doubled the funding through the tourism portfolio and we will continue to work to see what can be done. But it's also about making sure that, as I said, if there are other councils willing to, as I understand, inject a lot more money to help make it a sustainable program then I think that's something that could have been looked at.

JOURNALIST: So are they being too stubborn about the location?

RITA SAFFIOTI: I'm not going to comment or commentate on their –

JOURNALIST: [Interrupts] Seems like you're halfway there though.

RITA SAFFIOTI: No, I'm not going to commentate, but what I'm saying is we're very keen to see how it can continue. And if other councils are keen, I think that discussion should be open.

JOURNALIST: How much of a blow would it be to tourism?

JOURNALIST 2: [Talks over][Indistinct]… gets $9 million from Lotterywest and it has about the same number of visitors. Surely the State [indistinct]…?

RITA SAFFIOTI: As I understand the Lotteries West legislation, legislates for the Perth festival. So there's a lot- look, in relation to this, there's long standing commitments. There's legislation that governs where money goes, as I understand. But in relation to this, there's two sort of- two areas to apply funding. There's the culture and arts area and there's tourism. So as I've said, we are very much- we've supported it to the tune of double the amount, as I said, but it is also about making sure we're very open about how you can continue to make it successful. I'm disappointed that some I think of the corporate sponsorship has dropped away, and again, I'm not sure why that's happened, but that seems to have happened.

JOURNALIST: How much of a blow would it be to the tourism industry if the event never comes back?

RITA SAFFIOTI: I think it will impact the local Cottesloe businesses. As I said, these events, in particular this one is very localised in relation to the local impact. So as I- and we've seen some councils understand the value of tourism events to local businesses. The City of Joondalup for example, with its light festival, which was recognised as the best festival in the nation last year, is- which actually sort of beat Vivid, which is incredible from Sydney. So you see some councils, Fremantle does it well, City of Swan doing it with Entwined. City of Joondalup is doing it. We see local councils really step into some of these local culture and the arts festivals because they attract people to their area. So my view, it's always about a partnership and when you have local governments willing to partner with the state and we've done that. We've actually gone out to seek expressions of interest, to local governments who run already festivals, who want to make those festivals bigger, we're keen to partner with them because what you see is especially when the local government owns it, they can facilitate the festival, they can get their local businesses involved because- I know I'm going on a tangent here, but the concept of local businesses being engaged into local festivals, in particular when you can get the local coffee shop involved, the local restaurants, there's massive wins. And that's why having local government involved and partnering is a really key part. The same when you look at some of the regional events like the Crab Fest in Mandurah, I mean, that's massive and that's run by the city of Mandurah. So having that partnership, it doesn't need to be totally run by the local government, but having a good local government partnership is very important.

JOURNALIST: Sorry, just asked you said last year [indistinct]… You said last year regarding the Federal Government tinkering with GST allocation, that they would lose every seat in Western Australia if they did that. How many seats in Western Australia do you think the Federal Government will lose if it pushes ahead with Nature Positive?

RITA SAFFIOTI: Again, I'm not going to commentate on seats. We're very, very excited to be here. And I've got to say, I welcome the $105 million additional funding for health in W- for health. For housing in WA. What this is going to do is unlock land that we need for land supply in key growth corridors…