CATHERINE KING MP, MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Well, good morning, everybody. I hope you just enjoyed your first drive on the M12. Can I welcome Premier Minns, who's here with us, Deputy Premier Prue Car, my state parliamentary colleague, Jenny Aitchison, the Minister for Roads. To my colleagues, the Attorney General, Michelle Rowland, but also a very proud Western Sydney member. To Senator Tony Sheldon, who's here with us as well, to Nathan Haggerty, and also to the Member for Liverpool who's here with us today. Well, this really will be a highway to everywhere, linking Sydney's motorway network right the way through to the world when the new international airport opens later this year. After four years of construction, you can see around you the new motorway is ready to open, and it will be opening on Saturday the 14th at midnight. I can remember coming here when the roads all around the airport, as it was being constructed, really were a goat track. And what you can see now, with the M12 being completed, getting that connection right the way through to the airport, but also the work that is happening on all of the other roads in the area, from Mamre Road, Fifteenth Avenue, Elizabeth Drive. This has been a significant commitment to the people of Western Sydney to really build the infrastructure, not just for today, but for the future. It's part of, from the Albanese Labor Government, $13.3 billion that we are putting into road and rail infrastructure here to connect the airport, but also to really connect the people of Western Sydney into all of the rest of the motorway network here.

We know that when Western Sydney Airport opens for freight in the coming months, in July, it means that truck freight will be able to use and access this M12, being able to travel from warehouses right the way across Sydney, through the motorway network into Western Sydney International. We've provided as a government for this project, over $1.6 billion with the Minns Labor Government committing $408 million to this project. We know that over 8,000 workers, some of whom we've just met and who are incredibly proud of this work. Some 8,000 workers have been involved in the construction project, a large proportion of them coming from Western Sydney, being able to literally build the city that they live in. This road is an incredible legacy and I have no doubt that many of those construction workers will use it into the future and be able to proudly say that they built this. It is one of the many ways you will be able to travel to the new airport. And as I said, it's been part of the $13 billion commitment that the Albanese Labor Government has put into Western Sydney roads and rail, not just connecting the airport, but really making sure that Western Sydney will continue to grow as the economic powerhouse both of the state, but also, frankly, of the country. With the millions of people who live here now being able to work here with the opening of Moorebank Intermodal Terminal, but also Western Sydney Airport in coming days, this is a great legacy, and very proud to have been part of working with the Minns Labor Government to get it done. I'm going to hand over to Minister Aitchison and then the Premier will say a few words, thanks Jen.

JENNY AITCHISON MP, MINISTER FOR ROADS, MINISTER FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORT: Thanks, Catherine. Well, today is such an exciting day to cut the ribbon on the opening of the M12. From next week, people will be able to take the driveway to Western Sydney International Airport toll free, 16 kilometres. The speed limit will be 100 kilometres an hour. It will be a massive game changer, saving commuters something like 16 minutes on their journey time, no intersections. It will really show that ability that we are investing in with the Albanese Federal Labor Government and the Minns Labor government at New South Wales level to really improve infrastructure for Western Sydney. We've got in excess of $7.4 billion worth of investment on roads infrastructure in Western Sydney. This has been about catching up for decades of neglect, and this particular road is vital to ensure that our airport, when it opens later this year, will be able to be accessed by vehicles, whether they're heavy vehicles or cars or any other motorists. The other part of this project is the shared pathways, which will enable that access to happen. And we will have the beautiful piece of artwork as a landmark for Western Sydney, so that people coming into Western Sydney International Airport, experiencing their first taste of Western Sydney will see something which is so integral to the Traditional Owners the Dharug people's creation stories. This is a very proud moment for the Minns Labor government. It's a project that we've been working on since we came to government to ensure that it is delivered. There's somewhere in the order of 4,900 local Western Sydney people who've worked on this project. It's been an enormous pleasure and privilege to meet them, as we've come at various times through the stage of the project, to meet them and see firsthand the fruits of their enormous labour. This has given enormous opportunity to a whole generation of workers to be able to do this work. Now, in terms of the connection with this road, will connect with Elizabeth Drive Cecil Hills at the eastern end, and then to the Northern Road on the western end. They will have the M7-M12 integration coming later in the year. But it does represent, of course, that toll free access into the airport. The people of Western Sydney have been tolled for too long, too much, and this is part of our promise as a government to ensure that we put fairness back into the system, that it's not about toll-mania anymore. It's actually about people spending less time in their cars and more time with their families and friends and loved ones. I'm going to pass to the Premier now and he can say a bit more.

CHRIS MINNS MP, PREMIER: Thanks, Jenny. It's great to be here with you, as well as Catherine King, the Deputy Premier, and many of our colleagues from the Federal Government and the New South Wales Government. We are really proud to partner with the Commonwealth Government here to deliver a much needed piece of infrastructure. This road will transform this part of Western Sydney. I understand the original plans were drawn up in 2014 and twelve years later, we're delivering it, and that's what partnership with the Commonwealth Government can do. When you've got a Federal Government and a State Government that's committed to Western Sydney roads, you can allocate the funds and get on with the job of building this much needed infrastructure. As Jenny said, this freeway, this motorway, will be a freeway. You won't pay a toll on it, so you've got a highway to the new airport, and therefore the rest of the world. And we needed to make sure that this piece of the jigsaw puzzle was completed before the new airport opened. So I want to take my hat off to the teams, the engineering teams, the road building teams that were responsible for this work. You can see that they're over the moon with the way they committed to this project. It's not an easy engineering solution. It's incredibly expensive, it's difficult to do, but they came in and did it with absolute professionalism. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude for that. We also make the point that this is free, and I know for Western Sydney families, they're benefiting from the toll cap, which is a much needed piece of cost of living relief for Western Sydney families. But this is one that doesn't have to apply to the toll cap, and that's important because we know there's going to be a lot of jobs at the new airport. Many of the people that will be working there live in Western Sydney, and we want to make sure that they can get there at 100 kilometres an hour on this brand new freeway without paying any tolls at all. I'm going to pass over to the Deputy Premier.

PRUE CAR MP, DEPUTY PREMIER: Thanks, Premier. A brand new motorway without a toll. That is exactly the sort of infrastructure we need in Western Sydney. And what happens when you have both a Federal and a State Labor government committed to actually delivering the infrastructure that Western Sydney has always deserved. The thing is that this critical piece of infrastructure is not just about the airport. And the airport is brilliant, and everyone in Western Sydney is excited about the opportunity that the airport will present to our local communities, particularly the employment opportunity for our children. But this is about the people of Western Sydney being able to get around within our region. For too long, it's been too hard to drive throughout Western Sydney, on clogged motorways, clogged roads, as population exploded. It's a novel idea, but this is finally a Federal and a State Government, because we've heard the community through its protest, through many years, that infrastructure has to come first. That infrastructure, the airport, the roads, are actually coming before even the airport is opening. This is what happens when you have governments that plan for the future. When you have governments that look at “okay, it isn't fair that many parts of Western Sydney have been left to left to explode without the necessary infrastructure”. This is going to make a massive difference to all of us traveling on Western Sydney roads. People in Western Sydney don't just live in Penrith and work in the city or Parramatta. Some of them go to South West Sydney, some of them will be hoping to work at the airport, and this critical piece of road infrastructure will make that easier, it will be free, it'll be fast, and it's going to be brand new for the people of Western Sydney. That’s one in 10 of all Australians, remember, that live in Western Sydney. This is going to be a game changer for these communities.

MINNS: And we're all happy to take questions.

JOURNALIST: Elizabeth Drive, at the moment, it's a bit of a goat track, and it's full of trucks. How many of those trucks are you hoping will be off that road and onto this road?

AITCHISON: Overall, we're going to see 25,000 cars taken off local roads. And of course, we have the plans coming, and work will begin towards the end of this year on widening of Elizabeth Drive and also of Fifteenth Avenue. So this is part of the frustration for residents in this area. That's why we have these new Members behind us from Western Sydney, who have been advocating for their communities, in the wake of years of promises with drip funding and no delivery. So you know, as the Premier said, this project on the books announced in 2014. Nothing moved until 2021 and just before the election, they did the contract. We are getting ahead of that, and we are doing everything we can.

JOURNALIST: The connection to the integration into the M7, is that mid year? We’ve got cargo coming mid year, so timing’s pretty tight.

AITCHISON: Yep. Look, it's always tight. We're working with the Transurban to get that work done, and I thank them for their cooperation in doing that. We want to make sure that this is as smooth a process as possible. But of course, people do have those other roads that they can use.

JOURNALIST: But, save that time, saving eventually 16 minutes, what journey is that?

AITCHISON: That's on this section of road. Putting this section of road into the mix, you save up 16 minutes.

JOURNALIST: And that integration with the M7, is it the case that it's being funded through an extension to the Transurban concession?

AITCHISON: Yeah, that's because they're building the road. So there's a three year extension to the concession.

MINNS: Okay, anything else?

JOURNALIST: Actually, Minister, while you are up, there's a major issue on the Great Western Highway. Can you give us an update on when that road might be open?

AITCHISON: Yeah. So look, this has been a really complex geotechnical issue. We've had geotechnical engineers on the site since Thursday, when they discovered a very small defect in the road. Last night, they actually sorry, I’ll just check. Yep, last night. So by Saturday, it was starting to look quite positive. So by Saturday, the engineers were feeling more positive about it. But last night, they saw some cracking actually opening, which was observable, just not by the monitoring equipment. They could see it visually, that there was opening cracks, and they were quite concerned about that. So obviously, while that's happening, while there's still movement on the slope, we have to use an abundance of caution. This is the section on Mitchell's Causeway near the Convict Heritage Bridge. So we want to make sure we are 100% fine. The good thing is, since the road, the trucks and the vehicles have come off, we actually haven't seen any more movement. We will be working continuously around the clock, 24/7, the geotech engineers and everyone else in there to try and get back on track. But I don't have a particular time frame of this at the moment. Cars have got diversions, vehicles have got diversions around Bells Line of Road and the Darling Causeway. There is a lot of work going in to make sure that that works. We have contingency tow vehicles available for heavy vehicles if they're required, and a whole other range of options there. So we are doing our best.

JOURNALIST: Minister on the M6 transport. Have you found a way get that back on track?

AITCHISON: Look, we'll have more to say about that soon. We're working, we've been working with the contractors on that. There is a technical solution, is my understanding, but we'll have more to say in due course.

JOURNALIST: Premier, on the M6 topic, are you prepared to put more money into getting this thing moving?

MINNS: Well, look, I want to leave it up to our officials. But I just want to make the point that the contract was taken by the contractor, and they had design and construction, and ultimately they're going to have to bear the cost of that. I mean, we can't have a situation where, in good faith, the Government lets out a contract, someone takes on the risk themselves, and then it, you know, they get into difficulty, and they send the bill to New South Wales taxpayers. The reverse doesn't take place, like if they come in under budget. It's not like they send us a rebate. So, you know, I think we've got to be confident here with taxpayer money, and when we get a contract out the door, New South Wales taxpayers need to know that we're going to enforce it.

JOURNALIST: What about  Federal money?

MINNS: We’re always up for Federal money.

JOURNALIST: Premier, have you been briefed by Corrective Services, on the living situation of Reginald, or Regina Athurall? Apparently, she's living with a Sydney mum, and there's a concern for the welfare of the mum.

MINNS: Not that I know of, no. Maybe I can get more information for you.

JOURNALIST: Minister King, if I could, fuel distributors in Queensland say their supply has been cut and farmers are unable to get the fuel that they need. Why has that occurred?

KING: I'm not sure of the circumstances there. Obviously there is lots of flooding at the moment as well. I can certainly look into that, but I will just say generally, because of the work of this government, and particularly Minister Bowen, we've got two refineries that are open. We've got fuel supplies here in Australia, not sitting over in Texas as they were under the previous government. We are much more resilient than we were in previous years when it comes to fuel security. I'll look into the issue in terms of what's happened in Queensland specifically, I'm not aware of particular issues. I know we've had issues with the Australian Rail Track Corporation rail line, so it may be an event of flooding, but there is plenty of fuel supplies in the country. We have a stockpile of that at the moment. We've charged the ACCC with ensuring there's not price gouging. And so my message very clearly out to any of the fuel suppliers at the moment is that we will be on to you when it comes to price gouging. It's not a commercial opportunity because there is a war in the Middle East. There's an obligation on all of you to not profiteer from this. So we want to make sure that people are continuing to be able to access the fuel supply. But I'll find out what's happening in Queensland, I’m not aware of that issue.

JOURNALIST: Is more expensive fuel a reasonable price for Australians to pay for the eradication of Iran's nuclear program?

KING: I think that as what is happening in the Middle East continues to evolve, obviously, there will be an impact on not just Australia's economy, but the world economy. We're seeing that, seeing that everywhere. We'll continue to monitor what's happening, both in the Middle East, but also obviously its impact on the economy here in Australia. But there is no doubt that it will have an impact here on the economy in Australia. We obviously are acutely aware, in a cost of living crisis, that people are struggling with a range of things. Fuel may be one of those where there is an impact, but at the moment, we are saying very clearly that there is plenty of fuel supply in the country. There is a significant stockpile that has occurred because of the actions of us, in our previous term in government. And I want to say this should not be used as a commercial opportunity by fuel suppliers to impact on Australians who are going about their daily business.

JOURNALIST: But if it does, do you have any concerns about food shortages, and are there any contingencies in place?

KING: Certainly not at this stage. Obviously, it will have an impact on the economy, but not at this stage. I think that no, we're obviously watching very closely what's happening in the Middle East. We are standing up a number of places to make sure that we're across what is occurring right the way across both the country, but also in terms of supply coming in, but not at this stage. So really, the message is, you know, people shouldn't be panicked, and shouldn't be panicked into panic buying fuel or panic buying food. We're in a good position here in Australia because of the work that we've done previously.

JOURNALIST: What would be the trigger to access that stockpile?

KING: Well, that's really a matter for Minister by but really the stockpile is there in the case of emergency, and we're not doing that. There's plenty of fuel supply in the country at the moment.

JOURNALIST: Attorney General, maybe just put your sort of national security cap on. Obviously, the governments are considering a request from Gulf states for military assistance. Which states have made that request?

MICHELLE ROWLAND MP, ATTORNEY GENERAL: We'll be able to provide details on that in due course, but I will be very clear, as Minister Wong has indicated, we have received those requests, and those requests are being considered.

JOURNALIST: Are you able to say what, what the nature of those requests are, whether it's like airborne early warning in control aircraft or perhaps even fighter jets being deployed?

ROWLAND: Not at this stage, but when we are in a position to do so, I expect we will be transparent with the Australian public.

JOURNALIST: Have you received any requests from Israel or the United States?

ROWLAND: I'm not in a position to answer that at this stage, but as I said, we have received requests, and we are giving those due consideration.

JOURNALIST: With the Iranian women's football team, the distressing scene on the Gold Coast last night. Has there been any approach for asylum?

ROWLAND: Look, it is extremely distressing, and I think it was such a poignant moment to see the way in which sport brings people together, and we all, I think, recognise the bravery of those players. I'm limited in the comments that I can make for reasons I'm sure you'll understand. But decisions on visa matters are made by Home Affairs and where it's appropriate to do so, we'll be providing further information, but at this stage, I can't give anything further than that.

JOURNALIST: Premier, can we ask about inmate discipline? Did you discuss inmate discipline policy with your brother Jim before adopting legislation?

MINNS: No.

JOURNALIST: Why did you suggest that you did on 2GB on October 31st?

MINNS: I don’t think I did.

JOURNALIST: You said “my brother is a union lawyer so I know this issue back to front. Around the Christmas table and the family table he tells me full square exactly what’s going on”?

MINNS: I mean, I think that's a general comment about what's happening in prisons, but I didn't talk to him about this.

JOURNALIST: It's the second issue that you've overruled Anoulack Chanthivong on. Do you trust his judgement?

MINNS: No, I didn’t overrule him on it. He made the decision.

JOURNALIST: Sorry, I just want to follow that up. Anoulack Chanthivong had proposed that it had gone to stakeholders. You then overruled him before making a decision.

MINNS: No, I didn't overrule him.

JOURNALIST: Is that not a fair process?

MINNS: Sorry, we're gonna go around, any other questions?

JOURNALIST: On the 23rd December, so just, the eve of Christmas Eve, when you passed through the legislation post the Bondi attack, you were warned by your national security advisor that over-policing and over-enforcement and also controversial hate speech clauses would alienate communities. This is exactly what happened with Muslim communities. So why did you not heed the warnings?

MINNS: Well, look, there's a lot in that question, and you've premised it with a lot that I don't agree with. Just to break down the implications of the advice that the government got, a few things that I just point out. We had to make difficult decisions that I do not resile from. They were tough in the circumstances, but they were right. Both then and now, even in hindsight. I don't buy this suggestion that the government putting through reasonable changes to the law to keep the community safe is enough of a reason to incite someone to break the law or to confront New South Wales Police. That's the “they made me do it” defence, and I don't buy it. Sorry, I'm going to answer all your questions, but you got to let give me an opportunity to get the answers out. So I think that in these circumstances, we made the right decision. Now, governments have to make calls. Of course, we would accept advice from stakeholder groups, government lawyers, senior officials. We have to make the decisions. And ultimately, I don't think there's been enough that's been put into some of the advice governments have gotten over the years about how people can feel unsafe in their own community, particularly days after the worst terrorism event that the country's ever had, and I have to take that into consideration. Just yesterday, there was a protest in my electorate, in my street, with people saying that you couldn't protest. The protest took place in the middle of Kogarah, a protest to suggest that protests couldn't take place. My point I'm trying to make is we haven't banned them. There's been scores of them since the 14th of December. The decision the government made is about whether streets should be shut down in the middle of a terrorism response for two reasons in particular The first one is the gigantic resources that have to be tipped into policing marches in the middle of Sydney streets, at the same time as that, which we keep security up at mosques and synagogues and Jewish schools. And the second reason is dissecting the city with major protests, or even in the eastern suburbs, where you've got a big concentration of the Jewish community, we believe would have exacerbated community tensions, not eased them, and that was the circumstances that we were facing in the days following Bondi. So look, I appreciate not everybody accepts or agrees with the decisions that were made, but I think they were the right calls in tough times.

JOURNALIST: But since then, what you’ve told the Muslim community in your press conferences, the message is cancelling Iftar, the annual Iftar dinner that you hold every year. Not even wanting to apologise directly and say “hey, we made a judgement call, the police were a bit aggressive on that night, but we will mend relations.” You haven’t even do that. Why?

MINNS: I mean, I think that's a bit unfair and not a full reading of the government's response since the President Herzog's visit to Sydney, or even the government's approach and dialogue with the Muslim community. Firstly, it's not ubiquitous. I mean, it's a big, diverse, growing community in Australia and in particular in Sydney, and not one person speaks on behalf of everybody. So you've got a whole bunch of different views about the government's response, our engagement with the community and others. Secondly, in relation to the Iftar dinner, I'm glad you raised it, but the reason we cancelled it is on the advice of members of the Muslim community.

JOURNALIST: [Inaudible]

MINNS: I appreciate it but the way you presented it to me and your question is that I cancelled it without any context. I think it's reasonable for me to say we were advised not to do it in those circumstances. And I don't want the Muslim community to think, well, you held a Chinese New Year dinner. You held a big celebration for the Hindu community. You've had this every other year, and you've cancelled it this year. I mean, the circumstances are important. Lastly, I mean, our dialogue with the Muslim community and the Hindu community and others is ongoing, and it's deep, our most immediate, our most immediate decisions, and the course of action that we've taken is about building security links back up with the Muslim community in the immediate context of Ramadan taking place. The reason for that is that we've seen an uptick in the number of threats to the Muslim community. And I had Muslim leaders coming to me directly saying we want static police presence. We want operation shelter in our community, so that's been our focus for the last few weeks. I think, largely, most people would accept that's been a success. We've had big police contingents at Ramadan night markets in Lakemba. Some of our big mosques have been protected by police, and rather than it being a conflict zone or an opportunity for further exacerbated tensions, it's been the opposite.

JOURNALIST: Last one on this, sorry.

MINNS: Okay, yes.

JOURNALIST: How can the public trust your judgment if you're ignoring warnings by top officials who have degrees in national security studies and terrorism and counter terrorism and they understand the legislative risks that your government would run. Why would they trust you, especially after such a horrific tragedy?

MINNS: Well, I just make the point, ultimately, voters have got to make that judgment, and we'll be transparent about the decisions that we make, the reasons for those decisions and we live with the consequences. These haven't been easy calls for the government to make, but I want you to know I'm not resiling from them. As difficult as these calls have been, they've been the right ones for Sydney. And when I've got limited police resources, and I'm expected to, quite rightly and understandably, both protect institutions, keep the public safe, as well as monitor massive demonstrations. It hasn't been easy, but the police have done the right – a good job in difficult circumstances, and my view is the government's made the right calls. I'm not suggesting to you that everyone agrees with that, but even in the context of advice that we've received, I think circumstances have changed since the 14th of December, and the government's decision making has reflected that.

JOURNALIST: Premier on the Aerotropolis and Aldi. Are you hopeful, do you have reason to believe we’re going to see an uptick in interest in Aerotropolis type facilities? Obviously the [inaudible] has been pretty underwhelming, do you expect that to improve?

MINNS: I do. I do expect billions of dollars to be invested in this part of Western Sydney. It'll be a big driver of economic growth, construction jobs in the immediate vicinity of [inaudible] going in, but then long term jobs for the local community, it's what we need. We need that kind of investment in New South Wales. And what the government can do, federal government and the state government, is put the critical infrastructure in place to make it easier for big firms to invest in our state. And you're seeing that. You're seeing some of the biggest firms in the world committing serious capital to New South Wales, which is exactly what we need. There are challenging times at the moment, particularly as it relates to inflation and interest rates, but we believe we've got the right plan in difficult circumstances. And to turn, for example, the state over to the conservatives, whatever constellation that they may make up, would put, we believe, at risk some of that economic growth, the opportunity, the investment that you're seeing, particularly in Western Sydney. Alright, thanks, everybody. Last one.

JOURNALIST: Can I quickly ask on the F1, is there any interest in making a pitch to host in NSW, if other host nations cannot?

MINNS: I mean, look, in all honesty, we haven't been approached. So it's just a hypothetical that we probably won't deal with. But you’re referring to the international situation? Yeah, I suspect it's not going to be a question we have to face.

JOURNALIST: Not on this road?

MINNS: You could just about take it I reckon! Thanks, everyone.