Doorstop Interview, Perth

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Deputy Premier. And if I can begin by congratulating you on your determination to see this come to life. I too acknowledge the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation and pay our collective respects to elders past, present and emerging. I acknowledge His Excellency, the Governor, Chris Dawson. And I acknowledge all dignitaries who have been acknowledged.

But I think, for me, my journey here started with Christina Matthews. Where she went knocking on my door, saying, 'We have got this big, expensive, bold vision for the WACA.' And she won, not just me over, she won everyone over who is here, and many more. And you see that vision come to life.

And I also pay tribute to John Carey, who, as you hear the kids screaming down the waterslide, know that those screams would not have happened if John had not been determined to make sure that this had a pool and waterslide as well.

It has been clear for a long time that East Perth needed a community hub. It was the missing piece. And we had the perfect location for it, here at the WACA. Where we could take the strength of the WACA, as the home of cricket, and build on them as also the home of so much more. And that is what we see today. And we have now got gym function spaces, high performance spaces, and a pool. And some 197 years after Perth was established, we finally have a waterslide worthy of our community as well.

This is what happens when all levels of government and the community work together. And you have seen that step by step. And the Commonwealth has been really proud to be a part of that journey.

I want to acknowledge everyone who made it happen, but the other person I think it is worth noting is - I committed to this as a local member, I recognise that Mathias Cormann, on the other side of politics, also recognised this as a good idea, and had strong bipartisan support of the Commonwealth Government. And that has been part of its success.

I also want to thank my colleague, Madeleine King, who was one of the early champions as well.

Most importantly, 1300 people built this. It did not just happen. It happened because people came here day after day, year after year, to build something for their fellow Western Australians. And I thank the 1300 people who worked on this project to give something, not just to the next generation, but to multiple generations.

And finally, as people will start to stream into the WACA today, I can not help but acknowledge that yesterday, we saw shocking news of an attempted terror plot that targeted our city. Targeted the neighbours, the WA Police Headquarters. It targeted the Muslim community, and it targeted citizens going about their everyday life.

But what you will see here today is the best of Australians. You will see kids out there from all walks of life, all cultures and all religions out on the field playing cricket together. You will see families here enjoying the best of Australia. And that is the Australia that we celebrate. That is the Australia we build facilities like this for, and that is the Australia that I champion every day.

I would like to congratulate everyone who has made it possible, and it is good now to hand over my friend the Lord Mayor, Bruce Reynolds.

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JOURNALIST: Major General Chris Smith says there's not enough plain speaking in Defence. Do you think there is a lesson in what he said that can be applied across the board?

GORMAN: I think it is clear from that speech - if you go to the whole speech - he was not talking about Commonwealth Government policy. Secondly, when it comes to the approach the Albanese Government takes, we had the Defence Strategic Review to make sure that we have the appropriate defence posture for Australia. We are very realistic about the strategic circumstances which Australia faces.

I was down with the Minister for Defence Industry in Henderson last week announcing new heavy landing craft so that we can have the sorts of support we need for our army. It is important that we recognise that we need to continue to invest in our defence capabilities. That is what we are doing for the army. It is what we are doing with AUKUS, where Western Australia will be a key part of that delivery, but we will set government policy, and those remarks were not about current government policy.

JOURNALIST: Can you confirm that a cohort of ISIS brides has left the [inaudible] camp in Syria? 

GORMAN: I want to assure all Australians that we are not assisting any of those who are seeking to leave those camps. There is no Australian Government assistance being provided. We do not have information about all of those individuals that you suggest are making moves. But I will say this as well - any person who comes to Australia who breaches our laws will be prosecuted with the full force of that law. If you have done criminal acts overseas and you seek to come to Australia, you will be prosecuted. We are not going to give any assistance to people who have done horrendous things, people who have made terrible life decisions, and people who Australians just shake their heads when they see the decisions that these individuals have made. 

JOURNALIST: What are the PM’s thoughts on the terrorist plot?

GORMAN: The Prime Minister was briefed by the Australian Federal Police Commissioner yesterday. The Prime Minister, myself, and the entire Albanese Government share the shock of Western Australians about what has happened. This was clearly an abhorrent, targeted attempted terrorist act on the Muslim community here in Western Australia. It was an attempt to attack those who enforce our laws, at the police, and it was an attack on our democracy. Literally - an attack planned to attack our parliament. And also on ordinary working people here in Western Australia.

We are shocked, but we are more determined. Determined to make sure that our security agencies do everything necessary to keep Australians safe. One of the things that is really important when it comes to talking about the unfortunate terror threats that exist in Australia, is to recognise that every Australian has a role to play. Every Australian should put in their phone today the national terror hotline - 1800 123 400. Put that number in your phone, and if you see something, say something. Because we all have a responsibility to keep one another safe.

And I will say, what we are going to see here at the WACA today, is young people without any hate in their hearts at all. We are going to see young people from all cultures, all religions, out on the field, playing cricket, going down the waterslides and having a good time. That is the Australia we seek to preserve, and I expect, as does the Prime Minister, that the full force of the law is applied against this individual for these alleged terror acts. 

JOURNALIST: Patrick, the Prime Minister has often talked about lowering the heat, you know, calming down with it and so forth. Do you think inflammatory comments like the ones that Pauline Hanson has made - do you think that they're not helping the situation? I mean, how do you read that about, you know, a responsibility from public figures to also be careful what they say? I.e. I'm talking about Pauline Hanson.

GORMAN: We all have responsibilities when it comes to maintaining social cohesion, and we all have responsibilities when it comes to lowering the temperature. I would like to see every political leader, from Angus Taylor to Pauline Hanson to Barnaby Joyce, come out and say that they are working to lower the temperature. That is what Australians need from their political leaders right now. We do not need stunts in the Senate that are just to divide.

We do not need a Liberal-National-One Nation minority government. Imagine that. A minority government that hates minorities. I mean, what a terrible offer that the Liberal-National-One Nation Coalition put forward. And I note there are Liberals who are actively encouraging that One Nation be brought into a formal coalition. I do not think that that helps build the Australia that we want. I do not think that that helps give us the cohesive, welcoming Australia that you are about to see here at the WACA.

We have got choices, all of us as political leaders. I choose my words carefully, and if I make a mistake, I admit it. And I would encourage - it is never too late for political leaders to do the right thing. It is never too late for people like Pauline Hanson to come out and say that she wants to help lower the temperature, and I would welcome that.

ENDS