SENATOR PENNY WONG, ACTING LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION: Thanks very much for coming. Can I first start by recognising the dreadful attacks we have seen in the last 24 hours, one of course the cowardly assassination of the Russian Ambassador in Turkey and of course the tragic events in Berlin.
In relation to the Russian Ambassador can I just reiterate our sympathy for his family and for the Russian people and to say that violence is never acceptable.
In relation to the Berlin attack, this was a tragic event, a despicable event, an act which sought to strike at the heart of the Christmas message of peace and goodwill to all. Our deepest sympathies with those who have lost loved ones. We hope for the speedy and full recovery of those who have been wounded and we say to the German people we stand with you in solidarity and we express again our condolences.
On two other matters, first in relation to the event we saw today with Mr Turnbull here in Adelaide - welcome to Adelaide Mr Turnbull, I think he's already gone - and the signing of an agreement in relation to the headquarters for DCNS.
There's one thing South Australians are utterly focused on when it comes to the submarines, that we've all been utterly focused on from the get-go, that is jobs. Local jobs. Jobs here in South Australia. One of the things which was missing from Mr Turnbull's press conference was the commitment to the percentage of local build. We know that DCNS said prior to the election they would deliver around 90 per cent of an Australian build. Well, that figure hasn't been repeated by Marise Payne or by Christopher Pyne since the election or by Mr Turnbull. Well, let me make clear the Labor Party's position is not just words but jobs. We want a clear commitment around the percentage of local build so that the maximisation of local jobs, the maximum number of local jobs can be delivered.
Finally now to MYEFO. Well, Mr Turnbull and his team had the opportunity yesterday to lock in Australia's AAA credit rating. The AAA credit rating matters because it means lower interest rates for Australians. It matters to the strength of our economy.
Well, Mr Turnbull had the opportunity to lock it in. He could have accepted Labor's $80 billion worth of savings by accepting our changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax. He had an opportunity to lock in the AAA credit rating but he was too weak to take it. Again Malcolm Turnbull was too weak to take that opportunity. Because we know when it comes to decisions, Mr Turnbull is very good at talking, very good at saying what he thinks people want to hear but very bad at doing what is needed to be done. He is a man of words, not of action. He needs to be a man of action. He needs to do the right thing and lock in the AAA credit rating. That's what our economy needs. That's what Australian families need.
JOURNALIST: Senator, on the attack in Berlin, how difficult is it for security agencies, and particularly security agencies here, to prevent attacks like this one?
WONG: I agree with the Prime Minister on this. We have outstanding security forces and intelligence agencies here in Australia. We have a bipartisan commitment to working together to keep Australians safe. I think that needs to continue to be said and to be heard by the Australian people.
We do live in times where we see greater risks and what I would say to all Australians is we will, together in the Parliament, the parties of government and all, keep working to keep Australians safe and we have great confidence in Australia's security agencies.
JOURNALIST: On the assassination in Turkey, do you think that has the potential to further destabilise things in the region?
WONG: I'm not going to get into any unhelpful commentary but what I would say is this. There is a conflict occurring in Syria. There are very strong views. Theres been very strong criticisms of the actions of various parties including of Russia but violence is never an acceptable way of dealing with these differences of view. We would urge, as always, restraint and, again, as I said, I express my sympathies to his family and friends.
JOURNALIST: On another matter, the changes to codeine, making that prescription-only, do you support those changes?
WONG: I have to say I haven't looked at that in detail but if that's what's necessary to ensure that it's not abused, I suppose that's a matter for the experts. But I don't actually take Panadeine so I'm not really somebody to ask.
JOURNALIST: The Prime Minister and Treasurer say it is up to Labor to help them pass Budget savings measures. Will you work with the Government to ensure legislation is passed?
WONG: Here we go, Malcolm Turnbull again giving everybody a lecture. Listen. We did work with the Government, weve delivered a lot of savings the Government has passed. In fact the Treasurer has boasted about that but we are not going to ask the poorest people in Australia to do the heavy lifting when it comes to fixing the Budget.
Malcolm Turnbull and his party were elected saying they would fix debt and deficit. You know what's happened? Debt's got worse and deficits have got bigger. $100 billion more in debt.
The way to deal with this is to be big enough to look at the savings Labor is offering because we are not going to participate in Malcolm Turnbull's attack on Medicare. We are not going to join with Malcolm Turnbull in attacking Medicare. We are not going to join with Malcolm Turnbull in attacking pensioners or poor families in this country. But we are prepared to put up savings. We put up $80 billion worth of savings. That's the way to lock in the AAA credit rating. That's what Malcolm Turnbull should pick up.
JOURNALIST: The Government is confident it will see a surplus by 2021. How confident is Labor?
WONG: I don't know you have to ask me that. It is a pretty small surplus they are projecting. Look at what the ratings agencies are saying. They are pessimistic about the surplus. Well theres one way to fix that - pick up Labor's savings on negative gearing and capital gains tax.
JOURNALIST: The ANU survey shows record highs among public dissatisfaction in politics in the country. What do you think both sides of politics could do better and what's gone wrong?
WONG: We all have to do better. One of the things we need to do is make sure we put forward ideas and policies which respond to people's concerns. People are concerned about inequality. Well, you don't deal with inequality by hacking into Medicare. You don't deal with inequality by making life harder for Australian pensioners. You don't deal with inequality by making life harder for families who are struggling.
We have to make sure we continue to have a fair Australia. We have an Australia in which people can aspire to a better life for themselves and their children. We've got, as politicians, to make sure we not only listen to that but we deliver the policies which enable them.