SUBJECTS: Labor’s announcement of candidate for the seat of Flynn; Gladstone; importance of manufacturing; regional development; importance of local government; Labor’s National Reconstruction Fund; renewables; Peter Dutton cancelling Kristina Keneally’s trip to Christmas Island; Gladstone Regional Council.

ANTHONY CHISHOLM, LABOR SENATOR FOR QUEENSLAND: Thanks everyone for coming along. It is great to be back in Gladstone. It is fantastic to have the Federal Labor Leader, Anthony Albanese, my colleague Senator Murray Watt, and also the Mayor of Gladstone and surrounding areas, Matt Burnett. It is great to be back in Gladstone. Already, Anthony Albanese as Federal Labor Leader has spent more time in Queensland this year than he was able to in the whole of last year. It is fantastic to be out on the road with him talking about manufacturing. Thanks to Berg for having us along today to hear about what they have been doing. And it just gives me the sense of optimism about what a Federal Labor Government could do in a region like this, around jobs, around manufacturing, around engineering. Because we know that there are so many jobs that can be created in regional areas. So I won’t add any further. I will now welcome Anthony Albanese to say a few words. 

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Well, thanks very much. And thanks for the work that you've been doing here along with Murray Watt as Senators for Queensland. And it's great to be here at this facility. And I want to thank Berg for showing us around, for welcoming us here, for pointing out the growth that is possible when it comes to manufacturing. One of the things that we saw during 2020 with the pandemic is that Australia needs to be more self-reliant. We need an economy that makes things right here, which is why we put it at the centre of our national conference announcements, the creation of the National Reconstruction Fund. $15 billion to back in the private sector and Australian ingenuity and Australian jobs. And that's why we're here today looking at the difference that government being supportive of manufacturing can make. We know that the Palaszczuk Government has invested in this company here. What we need is the Federal Government that's prepared to partner with manufacturing to make sure we grow jobs, particularly in regional Australia. 

And I'm particularly pleased to be here with Matt Burnett, the Mayor of Gladstone, and to be in a position to announce that Matt Burnett will be our candidate for Flynn as the next Federal election. Matt Burnett isn't just a name. It's actually his real name for the Burnett region that needs support. And it needs a local member here in regional Queensland, particularly in Central Queensland, who knows the local area, who's from the local area, who's represented the local area and delivered for Central Queenslanders, whether it be local community infrastructure, whether it be bringing an NRL game to the region here, whether it be giving support to the needs of this local community. 

The truth is that after eight long years, the Morrison Government is out of touch, out of ideas and out of time. We're seeing that with the non-rollout of the vaccination program. The only successful rolling that Scott Morrison has done since he became Prime Minister is the rolling of Malcolm Turnbull that he did in order to secure that position. The fact is that Matt Burnett, I have had discussions with over a number of months because I want local champions. I want local champions from local government who are passionate about their local community to come to Canberra and to speak out for jobs, for better education and health services, for training young people and creating opportunities, and for growing our regions, particularly here in our most regional of states, the great state of Queensland. So I think Matt is an outstanding candidate. He's received very broad and unanimous support from the Labor Party to put himself forward for this seat, particularly in the context of, you have someone who's likely to retire at the last election, and quite frankly, someone who hasn't spoken up for this region. When I was the Minister for Infrastructure, projects like Kirkwood Road, Calliope Crossroads, the Port Access Road, the expansion of the airport, I was consistently in this region with Federal dollars in order to support jobs in this region. This Government is not delivering. It makes a promise and then thinks that is the end of the process. You've got to actually deliver for those communities. Matt Burnett will deliver for the entire region of Flynn, not just here in Gladstone, but in Emerald, in Biloela, and throughout the region. And that's why I think he will make an outstanding candidate and make a great local member after the next election.

MATT BURNETT, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR FLYNN: Well, thanks Albo. Look, it's fantastic to be here, to be announced as the Federal Labor candidate for Flynn. But how appropriate is it to be here a Berg Engineering? Engineering is what we do so well in Gladstone. And we're doing it perfectly here at Berg Engineering. It's great to have a roundtable this afternoon where we'll have more manufacturing, sitting together listening to our local Senators and, of course, our Australian Labor Party Leader, Anthony Albanese. Now, from my point of view, I think everyone knows it's been a long, hard decision to come to the decision to actually decide to run for Flynn. And Anthony, as he said, has been talking to me for a number of months. This decision, as I said, didn't come lightly. But it came because of Anthony being true to his word. I've been on the Gladstone Regional Council for 21 years. I'm Vice President of the Australian Local Government Association. And I've represented Central Queensland on the LGAQ for the last five years. Local government is what I'm known for. So I said to Anthony, 'If you can guarantee to me that the local government will get a better deal under your leadership, then I am in'. And true to his word, two days after my nomination was in and nominations are closed, he announced a seat at National Cabinet for the President of LGA, Linda Scott. Now, that was two days afterwards. At the national conference just recently, I put forward an amendment to the national platform which called for an increase to financial assistance grants to local councils, the 537 local councils across the country. And Anthony supported that and there's an amendment to the platform. So what I'm saying to the local mayors, not just in Flynn, and I know them all very well, right across the country, you will get a better deal for your local ratepayers, your local communities, under an Anthony Albanese Labor Government. And that's one of the most important reasons why I'm standing. But also, the $15 billion Reconstruction Fund that will create jobs and regional economic development right here in Gladstone, right here in Flynn and right across the country. And that's why I put my hand up to run for Flynn. Thank you.

ALBANESE: Thanks very much, Matt. We are happy to take questions.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible). 

ALBANESE: What we see is that we've got a great candidate. We've got someone who, even if he was running, we think that Matt Burnett makes a better candidate than Ken O'Dowd. Ken O'Dowd isn't a bad bloke, but he's part of a bad Government. It is a bad Government that's not delivering. And what we need in Central Queensland is local members who will speak up for their local community and a government that will deliver. I have a record of delivering for this local community. And I want the opportunity to take that record that I had as Infrastructure Minister, as Local Government Minister and Regional Development Minister, to take that into the prime ministerial role. And with strong local members such as Matt Burnett. I sought out Kristy McBain to be our candidate for Eden-Monaro. I sought out Matt Burnett to be our candidate for Flynn. People who have proven track records. Matt won't be the last person with a record of achievement in local government who we announce as a candidate in the upcoming Federal election. We're ready for Government. The current Government keeps contracting out its responsibilities to the states and territories. And we've seen that this week with the vaccination rollout whereby Scott Morrison can't keep a consistent message for 24 hours. No wonder Australians are confused about the difference that is there between what Scott Morrison announces from day to day, and what is actually delivered.

JOURNALIST: Would you say this is the start of Labor's comeback? 

ALBANESE: This is absolutely the start. We'll have further announcements in coming weeks and months. But I think Matt Burnett is a standout candidate for the Labor Party. And I was very pleased that after a number of discussions, and he didn't just say yes straight away, he wanted commitments, as he has said, that we would stand for regional development, that we would stand up for increased support for local government, that we would stand up for manufacturing and jobs here in Central Queensland. And that's why we chose here at Berg Engineering as an appropriate venue today.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible).

ALBANESE: Well, it is positioned very well. One of the things that we need to do is to make sure that we don't just use renewable energy, we manufacture renewable energy components as well. One of the things that this firm is in a strong position to take advantage of is our Rewiring the Nation initiative. That's about improving transmission so that renewables can improve reliability of the grid. That's consistent with what the Australian Energy Market Operator has said is a priority. They've identified the projects in the Integrated Systems Plan. That will require manufacturing. And there's no reason why that manufacturing can't benefit companies like this in Central Queensland. On my last visit to Gladstone, I visited the Rio Tinto Aluminium Refinery. One of the things that they are looking at is increased use of renewables as part of upping their output and improving productivity at that plant. But we should be making wind turbines here in Australia. We should be making batteries that will go into the expanding electric vehicle market here in Australia. We should be making solar panels here, not importing them with raw materials that are produced here in Australia, particularly here in Queensland, and then exporting them overseas and then importing them back at higher value. We should be adding value here. One of the components that we looked at in this factory is one that was produced, related to the maritime sector, was produced overseas, has been brought back here because they couldn't rely upon the importation. They needed to start making more things here. That's one of the things we've seen here this morning. And that's why we need a more resilient economy, one that manufactures more things here. And the renewable sector is just a part of that story.

JOURNALIST: What do you think of Peter Dutton's personal intervention to cancel Kristina Keneally's trip to Christmas Island?

ALBANESE: Peter Dutton is someone who always acts politically. And it's not surprising that, once again, he's acted inappropriately. My understanding is Kristina Keneally will have more to say on that later today.

JOURNALIST: What do you think of the whole situation? If elected, what would your Party do?

ALBANESE: I've travelled to Biloela with Senator Watt. I have spoken to the local community there. We had the gentleman concerned was working at the meatworks, Priya was volunteering, doing charity work and a part of the local community. And these two little girls were born here in Australia. We are a big country. And the fact is Peter Dutton and others have been prepared to intervene over issues like getting nannies for people who they know. Surely common sense tells you that the cost of maintaining this family has been quite extraordinary for Australian taxpayers.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible). What would you say to anyone that are feeling like they might lose their jobs with coal?

ALBANESE: Well, coal will continue to play a role in powering our economy. I've said consistently the same thing that all of the energy experts say, which is there won't be a new coal-fired power station built because of the changes to the markets. But we'll continue to export coal. Those decisions are on the basis of decisions to be made overseas in international boardrooms. We will continue to export coal for power generation, but also, of course, for the creation of steel. And a considerable amount of Queensland's coal exports are used for steel production. That will continue to occur. One of the things I say is that we need to respect workers in whatever tasks they do. And certainly, every worker in Queensland has my respect, including people in the coal industry. Thank you.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible). Is that something that worries you?

BURNETT: No. I wouldn't have put my hand up if I didn't think there was a chance to win Flynn back. And not just a chance, a real chance under the leadership of Anthony Albanese. I believe that we can win the seat of Flynn. I've got nothing against Ken O'Dowd. He's been the Federal Member for Flynn for many years. And Chris Trevor before him. I take my hat off to both of them. It's a very big electorate. I had previously been asked and declined because of family situations. Now is the right time for me to be able to represent the whole electorate of Flynn, which is massive, a massive electorate. And I know that I can represent that whole electorate. I know this area very well. I grew up here. My family's been here for five generations on my mum's side, and my dad's side is from Rockhampton. So I know the area very, very well. And I know that we can win Flynn with announcements like the $15 billion Reconstruction Fund. That's what Central Queenslanders want. We want regional economic development. And I messaged all the mayors of Central Queensland and in Flynn last night and told them that I had been pre-selected. And I guaranteed them that we would have a roundtable with the Shadow Minister, which is Jason Clare, we will bring him to Central Queensland and meet with the mayors to hear the priorities of what regional economic development means for their communities. I know by working with our local mayors, and I've had half a dozen of them call me already this morning and pass on best wishes, and I'm sure that we work with our local mayors, not just in Gladstone and in Flynn, but if Anthony and the team work with the local mayors across the country, we will win this election and will put forward a Labor Government that I'm sure Australia will be very proud of.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible). Are you worried that if you are elected a similar thing might happen in Gladstone? 

BURNETT: I disagree that it was a debacle. You got a fantastic Mayor of Rockhampton in Tony Williams, a councillor who has represented the community there for many years, a top bloke, and a very seamless by-election. I understand the other issues that went on from a state level in terms of by-elections and things. But it was a very smooth process. And I saw it firsthand being next door. So congratulations to Tony on his election. I don't think, if I am elected to Flynn, there'll be a by-election for Mayor. But that happens whether it's a state or federal seat. We will worry about winning the seat of Flynn before we worry about by-elections for Mayor. And I've got a very good Deputy and a very good team of councillors and any one of them to step up and take on the role of Mayor. Certainly, Khan would take on the role as Acting Mayor during the election campaign. I will take a leave of absence of about four to six weeks whenever the election is called, whether it's October or whether it's March or February next year. I'm not sure, obviously. That's between ScoMo and Dutton, whoever the Leader is at the time. They'll decide when the election will be. 

JOURNALIST: Will you be taking a pay cut during that period?

BURNETT: During the four to six week period, I take a leave of absence.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible).

BURNETT: And thank you for bringing that up. That's fantastic. Not only do we have our Boyne Tannum hook-up in May, which attracts thousands of visitors to the region, which is expanding every year we've got the Barra competition coming up very soon. I think it's $100,000 you can win. So get involved, get your boats in the water, or fish from the shore, and try and catch that $100,000 Barra. We're very excited about having that competition. But fishing in the Gladstone region in general, how many places in the country can you drive your boat down to main street and put the boat in the water and be on the Great Barrier Reef in a couple of minutes? It's not many places you can do that. We are very special here. We're proud of the fact that we are a major industrial hub. We're proud of the fact that we're an engineering powerhouse. But we are also very proud of our Great Barrier Reef and our tourism sector as well.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible). How much do you think you'll be able to put your local views to work if you get elected?

BURNETT: That's certainly part of the plan. Gladstone Regional Council just recently signed a MOU with Sumitomo Australian Gas Infrastructure Group, with the University, and of course with the Port Authority, so we can not only just deliver 10 per cent hydrogen into the local gas network, but we can train the future employees, train the future young apprentices, train the future workforce in this hydrogen industry, but also export it to the world. We are very well-positioned here in Gladstone. And we are working with the Mayor of Banana Shire as well about how we can increase manufacturing and increase hydrogen production right across Central Queensland. And I know that Nev is very keen to see that happen. I'll be working with him and all the mayors CQ to make sure that we get a slice of this $15 billion reconstruction Fund. I guarantee you that. Thank you.