KIEREN PERKINS, CEO OF AUSTRALIAN SPORTS COMMISSION: Good morning, everybody. My name is Kieren Perkins. I'm the CEO of the Australian Sports Commission. I'd just like to kick off by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Ngunnawal people and pay my tributes to their elders past, present and emerging, as well as calling out the incredible contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to sport and society, and the ongoing power that sport has for reconciliation and equality. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a very exciting day for Australian sport. The announcement that we're going to get here this morning is the most significant funding package that the Federal Government has contributed to sport. I certainly know as an Olympic athlete that the contribution that's made by the taxpayer through the Federal Government is the most significant impact on our ability to be able to train and compete and do all the things that we love to do. And when we see our athletes in Paris, at the upcoming Games, know that this contribution has been significant. And we'll see so many of our athletes moving on to 2032 to represent us in Brisbane. Prime Minister, Minister Wells, thank you so very much for this. It is beyond extraordinary. We're very excited and look forward to spending the next number of years with you celebrating and seeing the success created by this funding announced today.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much, Kieren, and to yourself and to Minister Anika Wells, to Andrew Leigh and Alicia Payne, the two of the local Canberra Members here. To Ian Chesterman, the President of the AOC. And Alison Creigh, the President of Paralympics Australia, as well as someone who's pretty familiar to most Australians, Cate Campbell. It's fantastic to have as well all these magnificent athletes behind us as we are able to make this announcement at the Australian Institute of Sport. Last time we were here, we announced an additional $250 million of funding for the Australian Institute of Sport to make sure that this facility was as first-class and as brilliant as our athletes are. That will make a substantial contribution going forward. Today, what we're doing is announcing funding for our elite athletes, coaches and support staff over the next two years, in a show of support as we lead up to Brisbane 2032. But funding that will also assist, of course, in Paris in the coming months, where all Australians eyes will be on Paris, cheering for our Olympians and Paralympians, the wonderful athletes over that period of time. In addition to that, of course, we have the LA Games in 2028, as well as Commonwealth Games and Winter Olympics and Paralympics in the lead up to that period. The bottom line is, I want to set up our youngest Australians for success at our own Olympic Games in Brisbane in 2032. We know the impact that Sydney had in 2000 and Melbourne had in 1956. We are a sporting nation. And when our athletes are doing well, it lifts up our entire nation and inspires us. We know as well, that there is a direct link between sporting capacity and the ability to just participate. Not everyone. Certainly not, Andrew Leigh probably went close than any of the others here to being seen as an elite athlete given his running capacity and still doing marathons. Most of us are just participants in sport. But you know what that does? It improves our health and improves our lifestyle. We learn social skills, we learn to interact with each other as a part of growing up as well. And that's why expenditure and investment in sport is an investment not just in the athletes themselves, it is an investment in our youngest Australians. It is an investment in reducing our health costs. Because at a time where parents are on the sidelines of sporting activities and outside school grounds, picking up their kids, wondering about how they get their kids off the devices and into the swimming pool or onto the running track or onto the netball court or onto the footy fields, this is really important that we continue to provide this support. This $283 million in new money, on top of the annual funding that we give, will make a significant difference over the next two years. It represents a 50 per cent increase on the previous Government, so 2021-22 high performance funding for the Tokyo Games. It also represents a doubling of the investment of the previous Government's funding for Paralympic athletes. This new funding is in addition to our $102 million annual grant funding and brings the Government's total high-performance investment to close to half a billion dollars over two years. A major boost, and it follows the $250 million dollar investment we have in this national facility as well. Before I hand over to the Minister, and then to Ian and Alison to make some comments before we take questions, I do want to acknowledge Cate very publicly, as Australia's Prime Minister. Cate Campbell has inspired Australians for such a long period of time. An amazing achievement. A veteran of four Olympic Games, eight Olympic medals, seven world records, and you are one of the most recognisable faces in Australian sport. And seeing the response today, even though it's not the same sport, I recognise that, the water polo players, the young women who are looking forward to participating in this and future Olympic Games. Cate Campbell has been an inspiration for such a long period of time, especially to young girls. As someone who was a really, really ordinary member of the South Sydney swimming team, Prince Alfred Park was our home pool, and who was quite satisfied to get to the end of the pool and touch in whatever time, I am absolutely in awe of what you have achieved, Cate. And what you have achieved not just as an athlete, but as a person and a role model. Congratulations.
ANIKA WELLS, MINISTER FOR SPORTS: Thank you very much to Kieren for welcoming us. Thank you to the Prime Minister for backing sport and our athletes so absolutely, not just in words but in actions. Thank you to Ian Chesterman. Thank you to Alison Creigh. Thank you to our incredible athletes, young, emerging elite and our most sought after new retiree Cate Campbell. I know the PM just spoke to you. We were at the national swim trials lesson two Saturdays ago when Cate swam her final elite race. The atmosphere was electric when she finished and touched the mat. Every single other swimmer in the pool swam over to join her, to thank her. Everyone in the stadium, bleacher by bleacher, was leaning forward like clapping wasn't enough, trying to reach the pool to thank Cate for everything that she has done. In Brisbane, we've watched her so many times. I really think as the Sports Minister, I tried to be athlete-led. And it's so important for us all not just to celebrate Cate, she's winning gold for us overseas, but when Cate retired, is thinking about what place she has in the Australian sporting ecosystem. We need to have an Australian sport ecosystem through Playwell, through Win Well, where everybody is valued for every minute of experience that you've collected along the way, whatever path that has taken you to. And that's the mindset that I bring to the sports portfolio and to the announcement that we have for you today. It is about impact. The Albanese Government is proud to make the greatest ever investment from a government to our Olympic and Paralympic athletes today. A record $283 million in new money will flow to our elite athletes, our coaches and our support staff over the next two years on the path to Brisbane 2032. And to add to this, our $102.8 million grant funding that brings the Government's total high performance investment to $489 over two years. This record funding also means that finally a government has begun addressing the imbalances between able-bodied and Para sport. For years, government funding for sports has been around 85 per cent to able-bodied sports and 15 per cent to Para. And I know when I learnt that stat, that really weighed on me, as I know it has weighed on many people who love Australian sport and have loved Australian sport for decades. But when I took it to the PM, he didn't hesitate, he backed us. And today, we can announce the largest ever funding, doubling of funding for Para sport. It goes to $54.9 million in additional funding, which now shifts that balance to 75 per cent for able-bodied sport and 25 per cent to Para sport. That funding is life-changing. That funding helps us develop the next Madison de Rozario, the next Ellie Cole, to ensure that there's better access to fit-for-purpose training for specialised coaching and specialised support. Especially one for me also, and I hope the athletes particularly appreciate this, we are providing more than $17 million in extra funding for direct athletes support grants. That is money that goes straight to athletes, that is money that directly assists with their cost of living. More athletes are going to be eligible for that now as a result of this huge boost to that funding today. It's really needed because, you know, let's not gild the lily here, over half of Australia's representative athletes earn less than 23 grand a year and they often have to sacrifice training sessions for fundraising sessions just to keep themselves afloat. Like our javelin thrower, Mackenzie Liddell, she juggles overnight shifts as a doctor with her training and competition commitments. This year alone, I've met more than 100 Olympic and Paralympic athletes. I've heard that concern particularly. And now, the Prime Minister and I have responded today. We responded with the greatest ever investment for our Olympic and Paralympic sports athletes. That isn't on top of the biggest ever investment in the AIF in 40 years. Because this Government backs sport. We back our athletes from playground to podium, from our pathways to Paris, and we back them to Brisbane 2032. We're going to get it done.
IAN CHESTERMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: Thank you very much, Prime Minister. Thank you very much, Minister. It's such an important and uplifting news at this time as we head towards Paris. And I know it's going to make a huge difference as we move forward towards 2032 Brisbane, our home games. What's become very, very clear is that if you want a successful home games, you have to have a successful home team. And this new funding comes at such a critical time in that pathway to help both our Olympians and Paralympians and all our sporting organisations really put together the best program possible so that our athletes have their best chance of success, whether it be in LA 28, or Brisbane in 2032. I particularly want to acknowledge the funding gains for Paralympians, which we welcome. We thank very much the support for direct athletes in sport because these athletes put it all on the line to represent us on the international stage and bring us as a country so much pride. So, it's fantastic to see them so more supported and also the money going directly to our national federations who, of course, put on the programs to help these athletes be the best that they can be. I particularly want to thank the Prime Minister for his personal support in this program. I know the Prime Minister has a strong understanding of the importance of sport right across this country. Our Olympic sports are played in every community in every part of this country. Everybody will get giddy about this announcement, because it will allow our sports to run even better programs to encourage more people to be active and involved in our sports. It's an exciting time as we head to Paris. I'm absolutely certain that our Olympic team will bring great pride to us with their performances and their behaviour on and off the field of play. It's going to be a really exciting couple of weeks to see our Olympians and Paralympians in action. And then, of course, we come home. And we started this great campaign with this extra funding, extra support to make sure that runway to 2032 really works in this country and sets us up for a fantastic decade. So, thank you very much, Prime Minister and Minister.
ALISON CREIGH, PARALYMPICS AUSTRALIA CHAIR: Good morning all, Prime Minister, Minister. Paralympics Australia wants to applaud and recognise the visionary leadership, of the Prime Minister, Minister for Sport and the federal government. We also want to recognise the sector. The collaboration that's occurred that for the first time has shown true leadership to understand the importance of inclusive sport. This will make a difference to Para sport in Australia. The funding announcement today is unprecedented for Para sport in Australia. It's exciting, it's meaningful, we have no doubt that for Win Well High Performance 2032 plus, this will be a game changer and will make a real difference for Para sport in Australia and for our Para athletes. This is so important for our Para athletes This funding will uplift our high performance Para programs. It will support our emerging high performance athletes. It will enable our high performance programs to be geared to be the best that they can possibly be. But it's a system that brings to light Para sport in Australia, and it requires close collaboration and I want to recognise the Australian Sports Commission's leadership, and the important work that our sports have done, our national sports have done to recognise the importance of inclusion and Para sport in Australia. This is so exciting for us. We have only sixty-one days before we commence our journey for the Paris Paralympics. More importantly for us though, is not only our team performance in Paris, but what this will mean for us over the long run. Los Angeles 2028, the Winter Games in Milano Cortina, the Winter Games subsequent to that, and of course, Brisbane 2032. For us, this will make a difference. It changes Para sport, it changes the landscape, it helps Australia see what inclusion could look like. It helps us to be more inclusive in sport, and we hope it will drive a better Australia. Lastly, the federal government's commitment to us from Paralympics Australia, the ongoing commitment to support us with grants is a game changer. It's so important. We look forward to every single one of you following Paris Paralympic team and cheering our Olympians on in Paris as well, and look forward to what the next decade can bring. Thank you
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks so much to Alison and Ian. Happy to take a few questions.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, I wanted to ask you on Senator Fatima Payman. Have you sought assurance that she will vote with the Party now particularly given the Greens might bring a motion like this again. What would happen if she were to vote again with the Greens on such an issue?
PRIME MINISTER: We expect that people will participate in our caucus processes and comply with, the important thing to note about this week is that Senate motions do not determine Australia's foreign policy. And the Greens political party engaged in stunts, not in looking for solutions. The Labor Party's position is very clear. The Labor Party's position is we support ceasefire, and we support President Biden's initiative which seeks to secure that ceasefire and then move towards how we can secure peace in the region. That requires in the long term a two-state solution, that is something that has been in the Labor Party's platform. And it is beyond my comprehension why it is that the Greens, the Liberals and the Nationals voted against Senator Wong’s position, as put forward as Australia's Foreign Minister, which called for a two-state solution and called for long term peace and security in the region.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, social media executives are facing an inquiry today. Is there any update on your age verification trial and when do you expect it to begin?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we have funded $6.5 million dollars in the age verification trial. We know, one of the things I discussed here was what parents are looking for, which is for their young ones to spend more time on this comfy spongy material that we're on now or in the pool or on grass outside, engaging with each other rather than online. We know this is a real issue for families that causes enormous concern. And we know that issues such as mental health of young people is connected with some of what we see online, as well as the danger that can be online with grooming, and other activity as well. That wasn't an issue, of course, when I was young, it was a long time ago. You know, sometimes I think we see a simpler world that used to be there, when you knew you had to be home for dinner and you were down at the local oval with everyone else for the hours in between and non-contactable. But this is something that we have to deal with, and we have to deal with it and get it right. Which is why with VPNs, and with other issues, you don't want to close off one avenue only to open another one. Young people are tech savvy. They will try to if there are other methods, they'll go off one method and on to another. So that's why you do a trial to make sure that you get it right. So my position is very clear and that of the government, and I think this is something that isn't certainly a partisan issue. Media, I congratulate the media for raising awareness about this traditional media as well. Because it is something that we want to get right. The funding is in the Budget. We will be, we're undertaking the process of a trial for that purpose, not because there's any disagreement about where we want to finish up, which is a much safer environment for our youngest Australians. But we want to make sure that we get there in a way that reaches the destination and doesn't just have a road to another avenue of danger. We are undertaking that work through Michelle Rowland, the money was in the budget. We've just had the budget funding, of course, goes through just this week.
JOURNALIST: Are you considering any further penalties for Fatima Payman’s actions this week?
PRIME MINISTER: Our position is very clear. And I've had discussions with Fatima Payman. There is, nothing was advanced this week because of peace by the Greens stunt. And the Greens are involved in stunts, it’s what they do. They are not a party of government, parties of government make changes. Parties of protest, do just that.
JOURNALIST: Will you seek that assurance, Prime Minister, regarding voting with the party on this again?
PRIME MINISTER: I've made my position clear to Senator Payman. Senator Payman, I made clear to her that she won't be attending the caucus for the rest of this session.
JOURNALIST: Can we also get a comment from Cate on the funding today?
CATE CAMPBELL, OLYMPIAN: There are two moments which are the most watched events in Australian history, one was the Matilda's winning both France and Brisbane. The other was Cathy Freeman crossing that finish line after the 400 metres in Sydney. Now, these are not the two most watched sporting moments in Australian history, they are the most watched moments in Australian history. And in a world which is so fractured, where we live in our own algorithm bubbles, where we know loneliness is on the rise, to have moments like that that can unite and inspire a nation has never been needed more. But to have those moments we need incredible athletes, and we need athletes who are going to perform and win on the world stage. And today, the funding that is being announced by the Prime Minister will allow our athletes to continue to provide moments that are going to inspire and unite us. I know that the athletes who are in the final stages of preparation for the Paris Olympics and Paralympics are going to get a boost knowing that the government is behind them, and knowing that should they continue to pursue their sporting dreams that they have a pathway to continue to do that. There are going to be athletes who have just missed out on qualification for the Paris Games, who can get back to their sport safe in the knowledge that they are going to be able to put food on the table to be able to pursue a career in elite sport. And there are going to the young Australians in lounge rooms all across Australia, who are going to be watching our athletes compete at the Olympics and Paralympics and they are going to be able to see a future for themselves in sport. They are going to be able to ignite that little dream that lives inside them and they are going to be the athletes who are going to provide the moments that are going to inspire and unite us at our home games in Brisbane 2032. So this is a incredible, a wonderful announcement. I thank the Prime Minister for his commitment to sport. I'm obviously a big advocate for sport, but for athletes, this is going to give them the surety to continue to toil away day after day, hour after hour, to get up before the sun rises, to go to bed tired and sore because they're safe in the knowledge that they can pursue a career in elite sport and their country and their government is behind them. So I just want to thank everyone for coming and being part of this announcement today, the government for their support, and I can't wait to see them go and absolutely kick it in Paris. Thanks.
PRIME MINISTER: Cate Campbell, a champion not just in the pool, but out of the pool, quite clearly.
JOURNALIST: Just on a final matter if I may. There was an attack on a New South Wales state Labor MPs office. Teenager, Jordan Patten in a manifesto and a video also threatened to attack other Labor MPs and yourself. Pretty striking and scary vision that came out. Do you have any response to this particular attack?
PRIME MINISTER: This is a crime, and this person should face the full force of the law. There's no place for extremism in Australia. That documentation that was made is very concerning, including threats not just to Labor MPs, but to others, to my family. It’s another reason why families should be off-limits from the media, frankly. It’s something that is of concern, a very direct threat. I applaud the security agencies and police for their swift action that they undertook. Before we leave, I can seamlessly segue to the fact that this is the last working day before July 1. Next Monday, every Australian worker on an award wage will receive a significant increase in their wages. In addition to that, those 2.5 million plus workers who will receive that wage increase, every Australian taxpayer will receive a tax cut, all 13.6 million of them. In addition to that, the freezing of PBS will continue. In addition to that, an additional two weeks paid parental leave will kick in. These cost of living measures are aimed at making a difference. We know that many Australians are doing a tough. We want Australians to earn more and to keep more of what they earn, which is why we're putting in place these important measures as we go forward. And next Monday will be a day in which we improve the living standards of Australians. So we want to lift Australians up, whether it be cost of living pressures, or lifting Australians up through the inspiration that these athletes will provide in Paris in coming months and in the years ahead as well, which is why today's announcement is so important. Thanks very much.