Sep52017

Interview with Fitzy and Wippa, NOVA 96.9 Sydney

Australia

RYAN FITZGERALD:

You’re in for a special treat, because this is the first time that we’ve had this man on our show.

MICHAEL WIPFLI:

Oh yeah.

RYAN FITZGERALD:

It is the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Welcome to the show Malcolm!

PRIME MINISTER:

Hey, great to be with you.

MICHAEL WIPFLI:

Prime Minister, we have wanted you on the show for a long time. Have you ever listened to the Fitzy and Wippa broadcast before?

PRIME MINISTER:

You know, I haven’t but I’m glad to be on it this morning.

RYAN FITZGERALD:

Okay, you get to request a song at the end of that you know Prime Minister, so you’ve got to think of your number one karaoke song alright? But we’ll give you time to think about that okay?

PRIME MINISTER:

I’m about as good at karaoke as I am at basketball.

[Laughter]

RYAN FITZGERALD:

Well said, well said!

We do have to talk about this because the United Nations has stepped in with the North Korea crisis that is happening at the moment. You’ve asked them to intervene to stop the reckless conduct that is happening over there with Kim Jong-un at the moment. A lot of people, we’re seeing a lot of breaking news, a lot of people are very nervous at the moment Prime Minister. Are we getting all of the information at the moment? Are we very close to something happening?

PRIME MINISTER:

The UN Security Council has met. All of the members have condemned North Korea’s latest provocation which was this latest nuclear test, following hard on the heels of firing a missile that flew over Japan the previous week.

This is a very dangerous, reckless, provocative regime. The need now is to enforce the toughest economic sanctions on North Korea. Now, the Security Council already has imposed sanctions and what they’re now considering, is imposing even tougher ones. Really, that is the key to bringing the regime to its senses, without conflict.

RYAN FITZGERALD:

You mentioned yesterday of course, that China would play a huge role in this.

PRIME MINISTER:

Yes, China has by far the biggest economic relationship with North Korea and so it has the biggest leverage and therefore the greatest responsibility.

But it is important to understand that while they’ve got a shared history and they’re both communist states and they’ve obviously been allies – very close allies – North Korea is not an obedient client state to China like East Germany was to the old Soviet Union.

RYAN FITZGERALD:

No.

PRIME MINISTER:

China is frustrated. They are dismayed by North Korea’s conduct, they’ve condemned it. What Kim Jong-un did with the last nuclear test as he’s done before, was a very calculated affront to China. I mean, Xi Jinping was hosting a big international conference in Beijing and so Kim Jong-un basically affronts him by having this nuclear test in defiance of Beijing’s wishes.

But nonetheless, China does have the greatest economic leverage. It has got the ability to bring the regime to its senses without conflict and it should do so.

MICHAEL WIPFLI:

Prime Minister if Donald Trump decides “enough is enough, we’re in, we’re on,” is a phone call made to you? Or do we just hear this and realise that as allied forces, we’re on as well? Or how does it roll out if we hit ‘go’ here?

PRIME MINISTER:

Well it depends what you mean by ‘hit go’, but we have a very close relationship with the United States in all of these defence and strategic matters, none closer. So we are in constant contact at many, many levels through our government system, our defence system, intelligence systems. But the important point to remember, is that everybody wants to get this resolved without conflict.

RYAN FITZGERALD:

Absolutely.

PRIME MINISTER:

Nobody wants to have conflict here. I mean Nikki Haley who is the US representative to the United Nations, made the point that North Korea is effectively begging for war.

MICHAEL WIPFLI:

Yeah, yeah it feels like that.

PRIME MINISTER:

It is extraordinary conduct but a war on the Peninsula would result in thousands of deaths, extraordinary devastation. It would be so damaging to the world, to the region, to the global economy. It would be a catastrophe. That is why everybody that has leverage over North Korea should use it now to bring them to their senses.

Again I want to stress, I’m not suggesting China is responsible in any way for Kim Jong-un’s actions, quite the contrary. Nonetheless China does have the biggest leverage and hence the biggest responsibility.

RYAN FITZGERALD:

Let’s pray it doesn’t get to that point. On a lighter note you were just talking about this before, but since you’ve been on our show and its only been for a couple of minutes Prime Minister, we’ve received a phone call here from arguably Australia’s greatest ever basketballer, Andrew Gaze is on the line. Good morning Gazey.

ANDREW GAZE:

Morning Fitzy. yes just wanted to call up and just say if I could have a chat to the Prime Minister just ever so briefly, because there’s a lot of important issues going on around the world and we wish you all the very best with some of those negotiations. But on the internet over the weekend, I tell you what, basketball is the most participated sport in this country, I suppose where participation is concerned. To see some of this shooting action the Prime Minister had, in this little exhibition there at one of the venues. I mean there was no arc, there was no leg bend, there was a whole lot going wrong with that particular shot and I just wanted to offer my services to the great man.

PRIME MINISTER:

Well Andrew, thank you, thank you, clearly I do need a coach. But you know the funny thing is, the funny thing is that everyone says this about politicians, “Oh they’re so scripted,” you know, “They’re so risk averse, they don’t want to try to do anything.”

RYAN FITZGERALD:

So bad at sport.

PRIME MINISTER:

The reality is if you give most people a basketball, they’re going to miss the hoop, right?

RYAN FITZGERALD:

Come on Gazey.

[Laughter]

PRIME MINISTER:

Not you Andrew, not you. You give most 62-year old politicians a basketball, they’ll miss the hoop. But still, you may as well have a go!

[Laughter]

RYAN FITZGERALD:

Yeah.

PRIME MINISTER:

I’m always happy to have a go.

RYAN FITZGERALD:

Gazey, you’ve got to get him out to the Sydney Kings one night. Prime Minister, do you want to go see the Kings play if you get a spare night?

PRIME MINISTER:

Yeah, that’d be good if I get a spare night.

[Laughter]

RYAN FITZGERALD:

Yep.

PRIME MINISTER:

Hey Andrew? Is Gazey still there?

RYAN FITZGERALD:

Yeah, he’s still there.

PRIME MINISTER:

I’ve got to say I was so pumped up, excited by the enthusiasm of all those kids at that Willetton Basketball Centre I went to in Perth with Ben Morton. Because you know, you can see it is just so popular. Did you say it’s the most popular participation sport in Australia? Is that right?

ANDREW GAZE:

Oh look, I might have been stretching the imagination ever so slightly there. 

[Laughter]

But it is, participation rates are certainly the envy of most other sports.

MICHAEL WIPFLI:

Yeah.

ANDREW GAZE:

We unfortunately are very honest with our registration numbers, unlike some of these other sports. I always like to think it is the most participated. We need a few more venues and then, no doubt about it, we’ll be able to lay claim.

PRIME MINISTER:

Well I’m getting lots of help. Joe Ingles has tweeted me offering support, so you know, clearly it’s also very touching. Everyone says that people are very hard on politicians, but there you see –

MICHAEL WIPFLI:

Well there you go.

PRIME MINISTER:

Great Australian basketballers are reaching out, they’re filled with compassion and a desire to help me so that’s good.

MICHAEL WIPFLI:

Prime Minister you’re a big Swans fan too, will you be there on Saturday?

PRIME MINISTER:

No I won’t sadly. I’ll be up in Darwin, but how do you feel about it? You’d be torn between them and the Crows I guess.

RYAN FITZGERALD:

Yeah we are at the moment.

MICHAEL WIPFLI:

The Swannies are flying.

RYAN FITZGERALD:

It’s just great, it’s finals time, we are very excited.

We did say to you before, you need to choose a song though, Prime Minister. I mean, you don’t need to perform it for us now. Mike Baird, he went with Power and the Passion by Midnight Oil, Gladys Berejiklian went Ed Sheeran, Bill Shorten picked Great Southern Land. What is your number one song Mr Turnbull?

PRIME MINISTER:

Well, my favourite song – but it’s a romantic song…

MICHAEL WIPFLI:

Yeah, no I like this.

PRIME MINISTER:

My romantic song is If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?

RYAN FITZGERALD:

Oh!

MICHAEL WIPFLI:

Have you slow waltzed with Lucy to that one?

PRIME MINISTER:

Yeah, yeah.

RYAN FITZGERALD:

That’s not bad. Alright.

PRIME MINISTER:

But I couldn’t sing it, I’ve got to tell you.

RYAN FITZGERALD:

You know, Tony Abbott’s was Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley. He performed that for us.

MICHAEL WIPFLI:

He knew a few.

[Laughter]

RYAN FITZGERALD:

He’d had a couple of beers before it as well, I dunno if there were any c-bombs dropped while he was singing.

[Laughter]

PRIME MINISTER:

Well, this is a family program.

[Laughter].

MICHAEL WIPFLI:

Yes it is, so we don’t understand what that means. But Prime Minister thank you so much for your time.

PRIME MINISTER:

Yeah, great to be with you. Thanks a lot Gazey too.

RYAN FITZGERALD:

No worries, good on you mate.

[ENDS]

Sep52017

News story: Scotland to pioneer future of global oil and gas industry

HM Government

Andrew Jones, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, will speak at the oil and gas industry’s largest conference – Offshore Europe – which begins in Aberdeen today (5 September).

Cleaning up and dismantling old oil rigs and pipelines – known as ‘decommissioning’ – must be carried out by all operators once they have finished extracting oil and gas in the UK. The North Sea is one of the first regions in the world to start decommissioning on such a large scale.

As oil fields mature across the world, the minister has said there is opportunity for the UK to become pioneers in this area. He believes the sector should develop this expertise and sell it to the world.

The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Jones MP, said:

The UK oil and gas industry supports 300,000 jobs, and with up to 20 billion barrels of oil yet to recover, has many productive years ahead. As the need for decommissioning grows, we must seize the opportunity to cement the UK as a world-leader in this field and export this knowledge globally.

Efficient decommissioning means big changes to the oil and gas industry – requiring new technology, skills and innovative approaches. This will ensure that decommissioning is safe and cost-effective while also protecting the environment.

Chief Executive of The Oil and Gas Authority, Andy Samuel, said:

Decommissioning presents great opportunities for innovation and the development of UK skills and capability. We are working closely with operators and service providers and are already seeing some great performance in cost efficient decommissioning, new collaborations and technology trials. This bodes well for the shared target of 35% cost reductions and the considerable domestic and export value that can be realised.

The UK’s head start on cleaning up the North Sea means that 10% of old oil and gas facilities have already been removed – and in the next ten years alone, more than 100 platforms will need to be scrapped and over 1,800 oil wells plugged.

The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) forecasts that UK oil and gas operators will spend almost £60 billion on decommissioning between now and the 2050s.

To ensure this industry thrives, conditions must be right. The government provides tax relief on decommissioning which covers around 40% of the total cost for UK companies – forecasted to be worth around £24 billion between now and the 2050s. The OGA have also pledged to reduce the overall cost by 35%. Taken together, these measures will help companies make the best of decommissioning, creating new opportunities, advancing technology and generating more jobs.

The UK has already started to see large decommissioning projects that demonstrate new ways of doing things and push technological boundaries, including Brent (Shell), Murchison (CNR) and the Southern North Sea (ConocoPhillips).

Sep52017

Press release: £40m cash injection to benefit lives of young people

HM Government

Youth organisations will receive £40 million to boost the skills and life chances of young people living in disadvantaged areas, Minister for Sport and Civil Society Tracey Crouch announced today.

The money is set to benefit 300,000 young people, providing new opportunities for them to get involved in their communities, support their personal development and get the skills and confidence they need to enter the workplace.

It will be used to create new youth clubs in rural areas, expand sports projects to build the confidence of young people encouraging them to get active and increase services providing support and guidance to young people.

The Youth Investment Fund – made up of government and National Lottery players money from the from the Big Lottery Fund – will be shared by 86 youth organisations in East London, Liverpool City Region, West Midlands, Tees Valley and Sunderland, Bristol & Somerset and Eastern Counties over the next three years.

Minister for Civil Society Tracey Crouch, said:

This investment from the government and National Lottery players will have a transformational effect on the lives of some of our most disadvantaged young people. It will help thousands who might otherwise have gone under the radar flourish. Local voluntary and community youth organisations already do so much fantastic work and this £40 million will enrich the lives of many more young people throughout England.

Dawn Austwick, Chief Executive, Big Lottery Fund said:

The Youth Investment Fund is a welcome boost for the many great community organisations that work with young people locally. Money raised by National Lottery players creates opportunities for young people to build on their talents and strengths and the Youth Investment Fund is an important part of the jigsaw for the youth sector.

Examples of projects that will receive funding to better the lives of young people in their area are:

Youth Federation: The Liverpool-based charity will receive £749,664 to improve youth provision across Wirral, Halton and St Helens. Youth Federation aims to reach out to nearly 5,000 local young people, providing coding and digital skills to increase their employability and improve mental health through sport.

Kite Trust: Cambridgeshire LGBT charity will be awarded £193,554 to create four safe spaces for 600 young people to receive advice and support on issues such as isolation. The charity will also develop and implement an education and corporate training programme for schools and businesses in the region to promote equality and inclusion.

SkyWay: Located in Hackney, the charity delivers a wide range of activities and programmes in youth clubs, sports centres, parks and house estates. It will use £407k in funding to improve its offer to young people by buying new equipment such as cooking utensils, arts and crafts kits and sports equipment, that will be used in support sessions. It will also increase the number of young people being trained as young leaders, a programme that is currently oversubscribed at Skyway.

The fund will allow the chosen organisations to expand the services they provide to young people, and sustain them over the coming years.

The New Philanthropy Capital and the Centre for Youth Impact will work alongside each of the 86 organisations to evaluate the impact of their work with young people.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  • For more information please call the DCMS press office on 020 7211 2210

  • The Youth Investment Fund is equally funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Big Lottery Fund.

  • The Big Lottery Fund is the largest funder of community activity in the UK. It puts people in the lead to improve their lives and communities, often through small, local projects. It is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. In 2016/17 it awarded £712.7 million and supported more than 13,814 projects across the UK for health, education, environment and charitable purposes. Since June 2004 it has awarded £8.5 billion to projects that change the lives of millions of people.

  • Breakdown of the bidding criteria (PDF, 88.6KB, 4 pages) .

  • The fund will be given to organisations in East London, Liverpool City Region, West Midlands, Tees Valley and Sunderland, Bristol & Somerset and Eastern Counties. These areas were chosen based on measures of deprivation, to make sure that the funding reaches areas of greatest need

Sep42017

Press release: PM meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir: 4 September 2017

HM Government

The Prime Minister held a short meeting at Downing Street with the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir earlier today.

They discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues, including the ongoing isolation of Qatar in the Gulf region, with the Prime Minister reiterating her call for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the situation and restore Gulf Co-operation Council unity at the earliest opportunity.

They also discussed Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030” programme for reform and modernisation. The Prime Minister noted its focus on transformation, innovation and empowerment and said that the UK looked forward to continuing to work closely with Saudi Arabia on this ambitious project. She hoped that Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman would be able to visit the UK in the near future to build on the historic partnership between the two countries.

Finally, they discussed Yemen, the need to bring the conflict to an end, and the continued importance of demonstrating compliance with international humanitarian law.