Opening remarks - Ministry meeting

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's great to be back in WA. This is the fourth time that we've had the full Ministry meet here in WA. Three times in Perth, and, of course, up in Port Hedland as well. This is, in fact, my twenty-third visit to WA as Prime Minister, and so I'm on track to fulfil the commitment that I made. And Roger and I got together last night, and we will be continuing to run into each other over the next couple of days, where we've got some important work to do. Today, of course, we were down at HMAS Stirling in the fine electorate of Brand hosted by Minister King and the AUKUS arrangements that we announced, 200 apprenticeships for Western Australia. Good jobs, high wage, high value jobs, making a contribution to serving our nation, but also making a contribution to serving the families of those workers who will have that secure work into the future. And as we went along the line, we met many of the people working for ASC or studying through TAFE at the local TAFE there, so many of them were local, you'll be pleased to know, Premier, from your electorate down there. So that was a very good thing that we did, and over the next couple of days, we'll be talking education, talking infrastructure, talking the economy, talking resources. Yesterday, we were down at Collie. The first Prime Minister to visit in 40 years, I'm told. So we were at the site of Peter Dutton's nuclear fantasy, and what we saw there was actual construction. 500 workers on site building what is an extraordinary battery facility that will have enough storage to power 860,000 homes. Just five kilometres away another battery storage facility is being built by the private sector, again, will be able to power 800,000 homes and provide that storage. The transmission lines are there because of the coal fired power station that will close in 2027. So, a real example of the contrast that we have here in WA. Your Government and my Government with real plans, real jobs, real energy transformation and making an enormous difference here, with, of course, gas being important for the firming capacity as well. So we, in the past few weeks - you'll be pleased as well - last time I was in WA just a few weeks ago, on the back of our early educators announcement, a 15 per cent wage increase following our pay increase for aged care workers, that service delivery being so important. The work that we're doing on housing. Later this week, I'll host you Premier again at National Cabinet, where we'll be dealing with family and domestic violence and the need to stop the scourge of violence against women that has occurred and has escalated over a period of time, and we'll be working constructively on that. And can I just thank you, Premier, for the warm welcome that you always give us in WA. For the cooperation where we're working through on so many issues, on housing, education, health, energy, on the economy, that is really working. And of course, transport infrastructure here as well, with the roll-out of Metronet, is a subject dear to my heart, as you know, and it's terrific that there's so much happening here. So thank you, Premier. And could I ask you to make some comments?

ROGER COOK, PREMIER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Well first of all, welcome back to Western Australia. It's the fourth visit for the Federal Cabinet. It's an enviable record in terms of commitment to work with the people of Western Australia and understand the issues on this side of the country. And I'm almost tempted to say welcome home to you, because you've come here so often, Prime Minister. But it's great to have you all here again. Western Australia is the economic engine room of the nation, and we intend to keep it that way. We have plans to make sure that we continue to diversify our economy, make sure that we continue to leverage our strengths and resources, oil and gas and broad acre farming to really diversify our economy to go forward. But we know that even though Western Australia has the lowest unemployment rate, the fastest economic growth in the country, there are people who are doing it tough. So, the measures that we're being able to work with you on around cost of living relief, first your tax reform agenda, but also providing $700 electricity credit to every Western Australian household. A partnership between your Government and the West Australian Government is a really important part of contributing towards those who are doing it tough at the moment. Housing, of course, continues to be a key focus I know, of your Government, and we continue to face challenges in that area, and building capability and capacity of our housing construction industry is an important part of the increase of the housing stock, not just here in the metropolitan area, but right throughout the regions of WA who will be an important part of that economic diversity piece. It's great to partner with you, Prime Minister, on the diversification of the Western Australian economy. The renewable energy that we have the potential to generate in WA as part of the energy transition means that we'll not only be able to decarbonise our economy, but be part of important trade relationships to decarbonise our friends in Southeast Asia. And I was able to spend some time with the Minister for Trade this morning at the Korea-Australia Business Council here in Perth, taking place here because they understand the important role that we will play as part of this energy transition process. And of course, Western Australia wants to play its part as part of the AUKUS partnership. And we are very excited about the opportunities around frigate construction, optional crude vessel construction, and other parts of the maintenance and sustainment of the nuclear vessel fleets that will be visiting Western Australia, in fact as they did today. So once again, thank you very much for your partnership. Thank you very much for your understanding of the important issues for Western Australians, and we continue to look forward to working with you on these important projects.