JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, I wanted to ask you about whether you would consider, because it';s the only avenue open to you, injecting a large sum of black spot funding money into the southern part of the Princes Highway? Because this carnage can';t keep on going on.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I';m aware of how bad the accident rate is. But we have to maintain quite properly that it is a state funding responsibility#8230;
JOURNALIST:
I realise that.
PRIME MINISTER:
#8230; the question of black spots, well I would have to talk to the experts about that. I won';t make any commitment about that on the run. But I';ll talk to John Anderson about that. But we do have a black spots programme#8230;
JOURNALIST:
But it is an avenue open to you.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I';ll have to talk to the Deputy Prime Minister about that. I';m not immediately familiar with the criteria. But we do have funding arrangements and, I mean, if we';re going to maintain states in this country they have to meet their responsibilities.
JOURNALIST:
What';s your reaction to Carl Scully';s offer to lead a delegation to#8230;
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, that';s just a political stunt. I mean, Carl Scully knows absolutely that under the funding arrangement the Princes Highway is a state government responsibility. I mean, what is the point of having states if they won';t do their job? I mean, I';m getting sick of this situation that every time the states fall down on their responsibilities they say, oh well we don';t get enough money from the Federal Government. They';re getting more money from the Federal Government than ever under the GST. All of the GST goes to the states and they';re rolling in it as a result. Really this is making the whole federal system of government completely dysfunctional. Either the states have got to do their job or they should pack up their tent and go.
JOURNALIST:
Now, is there any good news for this area with the Auslink announcement?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, let';s wait and see. Let';s wait and see.
JOURNALIST:
One more about aged care, you';ve injected huge funds into aged care and thank you for that.
PRIME MINISTER:
Yeah, we have indeed.
JOURNALIST:
And we';ve got all this lovely money but no geriatricians. Is there a possibility of#8230;?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I';ll talk to Mr Abbott about that.
JOURNALIST:
Absolutely not one?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I will talk to Mr Abbott about it.
JOURNALIST:
Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER:
Okay.
[ends]