Prime Minister
NEIL BREEN: And promoting Australia as a safe place to come and make movies, TV and stimulate the economy.
SCOTT MORRISON: That's right, it's about 8,000 jobs - that's basically what it's about. And we have been running this program at a lower level now for some years, from year to year. This enables us to go out and get multiple reductions over multiple years, you know getting series two and series three from a lot of those big production houses and run it out, and so you get not just jobs now, but you get jobs into the future. Because everything we're focussed on as part of our JobMaker program going through this COVID-19 pandemic and COVID recession is about getting people back into work. And in the entertainment sector, the film sector, the screen sector, whether you're a caterer, whether you're a supplier, whether you're a sparky or whether you're an actor or whatever your talents are, we know that industry really generates jobs and we know it will do that. It has in the past, and this gives us a unique opportunity to capture more of this so we get more of these jobs long-term. And I know the Gold Coast in particular will be a big beneficiary of that, and I'm looking forward to being up there later today.
BREEN: Oh you're gonna come up Queensland later today?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm looking forward to it Breeny. It's been awhile since I've been back -
BREEN: It's been a while. The borders open and you're back.
PRIME MINISTER: That's it mate. I'll be there later today.
BREEN: That's fantastic. It would be great to have you in Queensland. Now, I've got to know, are you going to be driving? Are you going to have the three hour delay at the border or are you flying?
PRIME MINISTER: I'll take the RAAF option as well. I spoke to the Premier last night and I let her know I was on my way, so you know, I'm looking forward to being there. I mean, Queensland has, like all the rest of the country, has had its challenges as we've dealt with COVID-19, but it's great to see those jobs coming back as you mentioned. I mean, there was 210,000 jobs across Australia. It came back into the economy in June. That is the biggest number of jobs in a single month in our recorded history. Now, I know the unemployment rate went up a bit, but what I can tell you is we've always known that the, what we call the effective rate, of unemployment is much higher than that. And back in May, it was at 13.1 per cent and in the June figures it came down to 11.7 per cent. So we are seeing improvement. And these numbers are going to bounce around with what's happened in Victoria, then that's kind of hit as well. But it was good to see that when we opened things up, when we get things moving again, when the businesses can open and people can have confidence - and that's what's so important now - that the jobs come back. More than half of those jobs, by the way, went to young people who were the biggest hit from the Corona in the first instance. So, now we can do it. That's the, that's the message.
BREEN: That's right. And that's what we are saying on this show, that it's up to us to get out and spend and support each other. It's the only way. One of the, one of the things is that on July 23, so next Wednesday, we're going to find out about the future plans for JobKeeper. I get a lot of correspondence here. So a lot of people say it's too generous. I've had an accountant from a business writing into me today called Jackie telling me it's too generous. Are we looking at some sort of a drip feed off JobKeeper next Wednesday?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we always said it could never be permanent. I mean, it's burning cash at around about $11 billion a month, and that's, you know, it's the most expensive income support program the country has ever run. But these aren't ordinary times and it required something very out of the ordinary to keep the show together. And it's been incredibly important, and the number of businesses I've spoken to over the last few months said, look JobKeeper has saved my business. It saved my employees. And we're really pleased to hear that. But we go into another phase of it at the end of September. There'll be continuing income support. There'll be more focus on those who need it most. And for those who are up in north Queensland for example, those areas most hit by the international tourism sector collapse. I mean, they'll continue to get support because of the, of how their businesses are travelling and those down in Victoria will more hit, will of course, they'll be in a position to continue to be getting support. But it'll be based on need and it will be a national program. It's not focussing on those sectors, per se, but the way it's structured is to make sure the support goes to where it's needed most.
BREEN: We know Victoria is a huge concern for all of us, but Queensland with zero cases yet again yesterday, four active cases overall. How important is the fact that Queensland is so clear of COVID-19 to the national economy?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look the success so far is great, but no-one can get complacent. I mean, Victoria was in a similar position and you get one quarantine problem and that can change very quickly. And if people aren't social distancing, if they're not buying the 1.5 metres, if they're not downloading the app, if they're not washing their hands - you can't live in Queensland behind a border and think that you're immune from this thing. You're not. And if there were to be an outbreak in Queensland, then that would put a lot of pressure on. And now everyone's working hard to make sure that doesn't happen. But a review of quarantine arrangements that we agreed at National Cabinet last Friday, and appreciate the Premiers' support for that, and that's underway, but I think we've got to be very mindful and particularly for younger people and those who are visiting Queensland or coming from other places. Queensland is not immune from the Coronavirus. And if there are outbreaks and they can occur, then then it can move through the community very quickly, as we've seen in Victoria. So the results so far are great, but no-one can get cocky or complacent about it.
BREEN: Prime Minister, I'm going to the footy tonight. I'm going see the Reds play the Western Force at SunCorp, it's a Rugby Union game. And no one will bag me for going there. I just wanted to say that our listeners wanted you to know that you shouldn't be bagged for going to the footy last weekend because you were just practicing what you preach. If you can get out and about, spend the money in the economy, do it.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's right. I mean, the NRL, I congratulate them for how they're managing the crowds at the game. There was an empty seat on either side of me and in front of me. I think there was a whole empty row in front of me, that's how they spacing people out. I think, I mean that ground has a capacity of around about 20,000, and just under 4,000 people there. So that was all well managed. And I was watching the Broncos get a win the other night. Which I'm sure was a -
BREEN: We were shocked to don't worry.
PRIME MINISTER: But, I saw the crowd there and how they were gauged, and you know, but the spacing was there, and that's great. It'll work when we all do that. If we all follow the rules, it's fine. We don't get around the hairshirt. But what we have to do is just make sure we follow the rules. And we've also all got to support Victoria at the moment. I mean, all the parochialism of states, that's just got to it's got to go away because they need our help at the moment. They're doing it really tough down there at the moment. And and we're supporting them do that. I know Queensland is supporting Victoria, the state government, to help them with what's going on. And so yeah, I think that's we're all in this together doesn’t matter where you live in the country.
BREEN: Just really quickly, I know you've got to go. And the politics of Canberra is one thing. The politics of AFL is another. Should Queensland host the AFL Grand Final 'cos we're hosting all the teams here.
PRIME MINISTER: Oh look mate, I’ve got plenty of decisions to make and I'm not going to get into one as contentious as that, I can assure you. And look, I'm pleased the AFL has that opportunity to rebase things up there in Queensland. I know the fans of the AFL would be very happy about that, but I want to keep seeing their games in as they, in Victoria in particular, have to watch it from their living rooms, but that'll be some comfort to them as they go through a really difficult spot. But, you know, I'm I'm looking forward, though, to coming up to Queensland a bit like the AFL looking [inaudible]. And I know Deb Frecklington was pretty happy about that when I called the last night as well about the film incentives. Queensland really, I think is in a position to really capitalise that. I know other states are keen to do the same and there'll be a lot of competition. But those productions, we've had so much success with them. And on the Gold Coast too, I mean, they've been really hit by the tourism and hospitality drop. I'm glad to see there are people able to get back into Queensland now, in most cases. I know still a border there, but that said, I think this will be a real boost for them in the Gold Coast. And they need that boost. And we're glad to provide it.
BREEN: Prime Minister, thanks so much for joining us on for 4BC Breakfast.