: I think there’s a universal agreement that the Australian Institute of Sport is not what it once was. It’s grown tired, older and not fit for purpose. The Federal Government has announced, after a review late last year that it needs about $250 million to bring it back up to standard, including a purpose built multi sport dome for training analysis, custom built accommodation and other improvements to facilities. The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, he’s announced this money this morning. Prime Minister, good morning to you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Adam. It’s a great morning for Canberra and a great morning for Australian sport. This is a very exciting announcement to take in mind the report that we received last year and to deliver on it, to deliver what is needed.
SHIRLEY: Most locals in the Canberra region, as well as ex-athletes, current athletes, would agree it’s not up to purpose now. What in that review would was the compelling argument that you agreed with to make this money available?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there were two issues. One is its location, and I certainly agree that the appropriate location for a national facility like this is the national capital. The second is how can we make it so that it once again serves the purpose that it did. So, many extraordinary athletes have come through that facility, represented Australia and made us proud at Olympic and Paralympic Games. And what this will do is to ensure that that can happen in the future, particularly in the lead up, of course, to the hosting of the 2032 Games in Brisbane. So, this is a very comprehensive plan. It will allow for further money as well, on top of the $250 million to deliver the Bruce Precinct master plan, ensuring that the Bruce site is welcoming and fit for purpose right across the board. But this is for a multi sports dome to provide an all-weather, multisport indoor training facility with integrated facilities so that you can get up to date testing and analysis. It’s something that is certainly a facility where kids who come to visit Canberra go, they’ll test how fast they can bowl or how fast they can run and various things like that as well. A new high performance training centre and an accessible multi story accommodation facility so that people can be on site while they’re training, while they’re getting the coaching and support that they need.
SHIRLEY: I’m sure most people across sporting fields will welcome this money in this announcement. Crucially, as a couple of texters have already asked, what is the time scale for it to actually be delivered in time for the Olympics and as soon as possible for other elite athletes who want to use the upgraded facility?
PRIME MINISTER: This starts from the coming financial year, so the money starts to flow from July. We think that, we want it to be done as soon as possible. The funding is available because we went about it the right way with doing a proper report. Then we’ll be having a press conference this morning that will include Kieran Perkins and a range of other athletes, of course. And the money will flow immediately to ensure that the AIS can be upgraded well, well in advance of the Olympics.
SHIRLEY: Obviously, this is a case that’s been put forward at length by the ACT Government too. Who will be in charge of commissioning and providing, I guess, the contract to do the construction? Yourselves or the ACT Government or a combination?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we’ll work with the ACT Government cooperatively on this. I know that the Chief Minister is having a short break at the moment, but he was very excited by this announcement, will be represented today, there’ll be representatives of the ACT Government. It’s important for them, but it’s also, of course, an important national facility. And I know that Anika Wells, the Minister for Sport, has championed this as well.
SHIRLEY. So, do you have a timeline where you expect completion of the project?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the money is available across the forward estimates, so it’s available immediately. We’ll put out all of that detail once contracts and the other things that are required are signed and delivered. We want it delivered immediately. This is something that has been neglected, frankly, for too long, and it’s unfortunate that we have to do what is essentially a rescue plan for the AIS.
SHIRLEY: Briefly as well, with this investment into the Australian Institute of Sport, is there money at all allocated for or could it lead to an investment into a Canberra stadium, either at the Bruce Precinct or in the city? Because obviously, and you might know that is not of a standard, of international standard in the nation’s capital, that being a stadium to host sport,
PRIME MINISTER: It is certainly in need of some refurbishment at the very least there. I’ve been to the stadium there and your comments are certainly right.
SHIRLEY: Does the Government have a plan for investment in it as a co-investment with the ACT Government?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what we’ve done is contribute $10 million for the development of the Bruce Precinct master plan. That’ll be a part of Tuesday night’s Budget as well.
SHIRLEY: We look forward to that announcement. Three minutes to eight. The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, is our guest on ABC Radio Canberra, giving some detail to that significant funding injection to improve the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. A couple of other issues that are pretty important, Prime Minister, obviously your Government made a significant announcement yesterday on the future of gas and its investment. It has caught several of your MPs of your own side by surprise. Amongst some text we’ve already got on this, one texter is asking to please explain your decision to back gas expansion beyond 2050. I cannot understand, says this listener, how this is compatible with avoiding catastrophic climate change. Why have you done it, Prime Minister, when most credible climate scientists say this is exactly the wrong thing to do to limit the impacts of climate change?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what gas will do is to provide firming for the shift that happens in our economy. The biggest deal that’s been signed on renewables in recent times was signed by Rio Tinto up at Gladstone. It’s looking at transferring from the use of fossil fuels through to renewables to power that important manufacturing facility. But it also is looking at the need for gas to firm capacity, which is important. We have seen a significant investment, a significant growth in renewables, and with regard this is not what the former Government said. This isn’t a gas led recovery. We’re not saying that at all. We are saying, we are committed to net zero. We’re committed to a shift to 82 per cent renewables to power our energy by 2030. That’s a remarkable shift which is required. The Government is not investing in gas, but the truth is that gas plays a role in firming renewables so that we can get to net zero by 2050.
SHIRLEY: Just briefly, because we’re hitting news. But isn’t that just what you’re doing, investing in gas? And isn’t that incompatible with hitting your climate target?
PRIME MINISTER: No we’re not. Not a single government dollar as a result of this announcement in gas, not one.
SHIRLEY: We really appreciate your time. Thank you for it on ABC Radio Canberra today.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much.
