Prime Minister
Prime Minister: It was great to reflect at the service this morning at the beginning of a new parliamentary year, just as we did yesterday afternoon at the War Memorial. As the pastor said this morning- the reverend said this morning, it's uncertain times they’re interesting times, but it's great to start the year with thankfulness and I’m especially thankful to all Australians for the tremendous efforts they've put in and I know they will again this year as we make our Australian way through this these difficult times.
Journalist: Prime Minister, did you speak- when you spoke to Angela Merkel did you speak to her about the EU’s export controls on vaccines and was she able to offer any kind of assurance that there’d be no impact on ours?
Prime Minister: Well those matters are done through the EU. And our advice and the responses that we've had and the advocacy we've made over these last few days leaves me in the same position I was saying yesterday at the National Press Club, at this point we're on track for being able to receive those vaccines and to start the process at the end of this month. But there are often disruptions to this, as I was pretty upfront about yesterday. But at the moment, we're not expecting that. Last night's call with Chancellor Merkel was a very warm call. We spoke about many, many issues, whether it was on energy or hydrogen in particular, because we've been working with them on that for some time now. We obviously spoke about the OECD that we took, we particularly spoke about the rather distressing situation in Myanmar as well.
Journalist: Prime Minister are you concerned by the delay in reporting to the Commonwealth from Western Australia, of that positive virus case?
Prime Minister: Oh look I’ll allow those matters to be dealt with at the AHPPC and through the normal processes.
Journalist: You’ve said it’s preferable to get to net zero by 2050,
Prime Minister: It is.
Journalist: Why won’t you set that as a target yet?
Prime Minister: Because when I know how we can get there, then I can tell Australia when we’re going to get there. Because if you don't get there by technology, you get there by taxes. And I will not make Australians pay higher taxes to get to net zero. Thanks very much.