Opening remarks - Ministry meeting

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks everyone for joining us. This is the seventh Cabinet meeting that we have had in Western Australia, not just in Perth, of course, but one of those was held in Port Hedland. It's my 45th visit to Western Australia as Prime Minister, something I have exceeded the commitment that I made prior to the 2022 election. And we come to this state because you've got to come to the West to understand the West, to understand the dynamic role that it plays in our economy as a driver of jobs and growth, to understand as well the potential that is here for all of the future industries with the transition to clean energy, with the prospect, including one of the issues we'll discuss today is artificial intelligence and the big potential that's here in WA. We've met as well in Bunbury down south. And every time we come to Western Australia, we have announcements. Yesterday at Henderson, we announced the precinct for defence. And defence is going to be a major driver of the WA economy, 10,000 direct jobs, but a multiplier, meaning many more jobs than that. Here in the West as well, we want to make sure that WA gets its fair share. And we've made clear statements consistent with what we've said about the GST going forward, but also the work that we've done with Roger as the Chair of the Council of Australian Federation on the agreements that we now have with state and territory governments on health and hospitals, on the NDIS, which is connected with that, now we have the legislation passed as well. WA was the first state to sign up to the schools agreement for fair and full funding. We have agreements on legal aid, we have agreements on community services rollout as well, as well as ongoing work that we do on infrastructure. So, it's always good to be here in WA and always good to have the relationship that we have that's so strong. I'll convene National Cabinet tomorrow, and one of the things that we'll discuss today is the proposals will go to states and territories as well. We've got a lot of work to do, not just in making sure that we harness the opportunities from AI, while minimising any downside, but also with the second National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children that we'll be discussing tomorrow as well. Making sure that the states step up as well as us going forward. As well as the work that we're doing on making sure the economy is strong going forward and that employment growth is strong as well. So, Roger, you are a very welcome guest here. It's always great to be in the West and I invite you to say a few words.

ROGER COOK, PREMIER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Well, Prime Minister, welcome back to Western Australia, as you say, for the 45th time, but also welcome to all your colleagues. It's always good to have the Federal Cabinet in Western Australia. We love having you here. We love talking about this state and how we're continuing to make sure that it remains the strongest economy in the nation, making sure that it remains the engine room of the national economy. So, we love the partnership that we have with you at all levels of your Cabinet around the whole range of issues which feed into the future for this country. Yesterday, we obviously made some important announcements around the GST, but I think we should also talk about the fact that the announcements around the Henderson Precinct, the preparation for what will be our second biggest industry in Western Australia, and will, as you say, create thousands, with 10,000 direct, many thousands of indirect jobs associated with it. The funding associated with that is game changing and it's a really important step forward. But yesterday, of course, there was also the announcement around the gallium refinery project. Critical minerals will continue to play an important role, particularly as we confront uncertain times into the future. And we very much look forward to making sure that Western Australia can stay an important partner for the country as part of that sovereign capacity. And of course, last time we were together in Karratha, we talked about the study into the potential of developing sovereign capability around oil refining on the West Coast as well. So, we love the relationship that we have with your Cabinet. We love the relationship we have with your government. It's an important part of ensuring that Western Australia remains a great place to live and can continue to play an important role in the national conversation and the national economy.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, Roger. And the other announcement that we've made this morning, of course, is bringing Blue Poles west. This was an extraordinary investment by the Whitlam government. Criticised at the time for a $2 million investment, it's now valued at $536 million. And it will be coming to the West as part of our plan that we've been rolling out, making sure that everyone, regardless of where they live in Australia, have access to the best art. And so this is a program through the National Gallery and it will bring a lot of tourism here to the West. We are fixing up some of the flaws that were there in the National Gallery by neglect and during that period where Blue Poles has proudly been located, while that work is going on, rather than it being in, what has happened historically, which is for artworks to be stored away where people can't see them, we're bringing it here. And that's going to be a fantastic attraction next year.

PREMIER COOK: It's an incredibly exciting announcement and nothing ages you quite more than when you announce in excited tones that Blue Poles is coming to Perth and one of your senior political advisors goes, "What's Blue Poles?" But it's as someone that's –

PRIME MINISTER: They will know next year. Because there will be queues.

PREMIER COOK: As someone who's firmly entrenched in the arts, I'm extremely excited by that opportunity. I'm also the Minister for Tourism and we've seen how powerful cultural tourism is. And I think that will have a huge impact in terms of Western Australia.

PRIME MINISTER: It'll be great. Thanks everyone.

PM&C acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.