Press conference, Fairfield, Sydney

CHRIS BOWEN: Well thanks for coming everyone. 662 days ago, Peter Dutton announced that he would be putting Australia on the path of risky reactors. 662 days and no detail as of today. He said he would release his policy before the Budget. The Budget's been and gone, well and truly. Budget reply has been and gone, still no detail. He said he'd release the sites in a couple of weeks, that was eleven weeks ago.

Now Peter Dutton has some explaining to do. He says that these nuclear reactors will go at places where there are coal-fired power stations and he has said the communities will welcome them. Well, how would he know? He hasn't been there. The closest he's been to a coal-fire power station since he became Leader of the Opposition was 40 kilometres from Eraring, about the distance from Bondi to Blacktown. He hasn't visited Gladstone. He hasn't been in some of the key electorates that he is proposing and will propose nuclear reactors. We know that they know where they want to put them.

David Littleproud says 'we've polled all the sites' so if they know where the sites will be, why don't they tell the Australian people? Why don't they tell those communities? They say that those communities are in favour - how would they know? It's a bit hard to look someone in the eye when you're 100 kilometres away. It's a bit hard to consult with people from hundreds of kilometres away. If Peter Dutton's fair dinkum he'll do a couple of things - he'll release his policy, he can release it today. He's been talking about it for months and months and he will go to the communities and engage in proper consultation and tell them his plans and be upfront with him about his plans not just before an election, when he said he would, he said he would do it weeks ago. The time for talk is over.

Australian energy policy is key. The next election will be all about energy policy. Well, the opposition is yet to release their energy policy. They've had multiple opportunities they’ve failed every one. Peter Dutton never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity when it comes to energy policy. He shows time and time again he doesn't understand energy policy. Release your energy policy, Mr. Dutton and go and explain it to those communities who you want to impose nuclear power on. Happy to take questions. Might take here in person first and then go the phone.

JOURNALIST: I was going to ask if Lucy had any questions, more about nuclear energy first.

CHRIS BOWEN: All right, we're going to let you go first, Lucy.

JOURNALIST: [indistinct]

CHRIS BOWEN: Look, I'll leave Clare O'Neil to talk about details. Obviously, I'm aware of the situation, but Claire is obviously fully briefed. Obviously, any hacking or cyber security incident is of extreme concern and importance to the Australian people. This government has put in place very serious measures to deal with cyber security. In relation to particular incidents, in relation to MediSecure – I’m going to leave Clare O'Neil to comment further.

JOURNALIST: Does the Australian - sorry, does the Australian Government call on Israel to abide by the ICJ's ruling and its offensive in Rafah?

CHRIS BOWEN: Our position on Rafah has been crystal clear. This is a humanitarian disaster and has the scope to be much worse. Rafah has been the closest thing we have to a haven for people escaping within Gaza. We have been very consistent that Rafah should not be attacked. We are very consistent that the rulings, the binding rulings of the ICJ should be abided by all parties, including Israel.

JOURNALIST: I mean, if Israel doesn't abide by those rulings, what happens, really?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, obviously, this is a matter of international law, but Australia can express its view - either you comply with international law or you don't. Australia believes international law should be complied with. Australia believes the rulings - binding rulings should be complied with, and we believe Rafah should not be invaded by Israel.

JOURNALIST: But what should happen?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, what should happen is that Rafah shouldn't be invaded.

JOURNALIST: And does it undermine the ICJ if Israel doesn't abide by that ruling?

CHRIS BOWEN: Unquestionably, if the ruling is ignored, then that undermines the rule of law.

JOURNALIST: Can you kind of tell us a bit more about the situation in PNG? What is Australia doing to help those affected by the landslide?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, obviously, like all Australians, I've seen the news of the landslide over the last 24 hours or so, and the deeply concerning developments. I know that we will be in touch with PNG to express and ask what support they need, and I know that we'll update as that situation unfolds.

JOURNALIST: So, there's no - I guess we don't know exactly what we're offering so far.\

CHRIS BOWEN: [indistinct] discuss this with PNG. You've got to ask what they need. No point us declaring what they need. We’ve got to ask them what they need and then respond, and we’ll update as that situation unfolds.

JOURNALIST: And just on immigration, if that's alright, Minister. Reports this morning that suggests that 25 criminals have been allowed to stay in Australia as a result of the AAT decision, decisions which were influenced by the ministerial direction from the Immigration Minister. They insist that the length of time someone has spent in the community and their ties to the community must be considered with regards to cancelling their visas. Doesn't this show that that was a wrong decision to issue?

CHRIS BOWEN: No, I don't believe so - the AAT will make decisions independently, but quite openly the government has said, for example, in relation to New Zealand, and this has been an ongoing issue, if somebody was born in New Zealand and came here when they were a couple of months old and hasn't been back, that is something that should be taken into account by the AAT. That is something that should be taken into account and it has been taken into account. So, there's always a difficult balance to be struck but I think that that's an appropriate thing for the AAT to take into account.

JOURNALIST: And another man's been released from detention now stands accused of murdering a man in Brisbane. Should people be worried about criminals being released as a result of this direction?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, of course we are complying with the ruling of the high court, as any government would be obliged to do. If Peter Dutton has another plan to not comply with the rule of the high court, he should say so. But we will comply with rulings of the high court because that is how the rule of law must work. But we have also put in place measures, including a committee which determines the issue of [indistinct], etcetera. That's an appropriate way of dealing with high court decisions.

JOURNALIST: I guess an example of a man being accused of murder shows that potentially that's not working, though.

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, again, where the high court has made a ruling, there is obligation of government Ministers to comply with that rule and abide by that rule, and to implement the ruling in a way which maximises community safety while implementing the ruling.

JOURNALIST: And just lastly, from me, something a bit closer to your portfolio, which I know you'll appreciate. The ETU wants the Federal Government to mandate pay levels for workers on federally funded renewable energy projects. Is that something you would ever consider?

CHRIS BOWEN: We certainly have been looking at the matter of best practice standards. We are in the middle of a very significant rollout of renewable energy and it's appropriate. Australians are right to demand that labour standards are strong and tight as that renewable energy is rolled out. Now we'll have further conversations with not only unions but employer groups, but appropriate labour standards are required across the board, including renewable energy projects. So, I don't shy away from the need to ensure that Australians get access to the work, that the appropriate standards are put in place, labour standards are put in place and that this is done consultatively across the sector.

JOURNALIST: So you would consider it, essentially.

CHRIS BOWEN: Well what I'm saying is that we will continue to talk with key stakeholders about the best way of ensuring strong labour standards on renewable energy.

JOURNALIST: I'm not sure if Lucy had any more.

CHRIS BOWEN: I'm not sure if Lucy 's still with us. You still with us Lucy? I think she went.

JOURNALIST: Could I only come back quickly to just the PNG, obviously, the situation there is incredibly dire. Do we know when we'll learn any more? When the Australian Government will get some -

CHRIS BOWEN: I envisage - obviously, this has happened effectively, over the last 24 hours, I envisage further updates will be provided.

JOURNALIST: But obviously, like you said, Australia, because it is such a close, you know, friend of ours PNG, we will stand to help them any way they need?

CHRIS BOWEN: The Prime Minister was in PNG just a couple of weeks ago on the first ever Prime Ministerial walk of Kokoda. It was the first time, actually, the Prime Minister of PNG has walked Kokoda as Prime Minister. So, the relationship between Australia and PNG has literally never been stronger. I mean, often that gets said, but literally, at the moment, our relationship, our bilateral relationship has never been stronger. That means, of course we are talking to PNG about what they need. Of course we have and those conversations will continue. And whatever PNG needs, if it's within our gift, they will receive it. That's the key thing. Whatever PNG needs, if it's within our capacity to provide it, it will be provided.

JOURNALIST: Thank you, Minister.