Television interview, Weekend Sunrise

SUBJECTS: Quad meeting; Australia-US alliance; Australia-India relationship; Visas; Middle East conflict; Geelong Cats in AFL Preliminary Final.

MATT DORAN, HOST: Well, in breaking news, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has just been welcomed into the home of US President Joe Biden ahead of their Quad meeting tomorrow.

SALLY BOWREY, HOST: This is the final meeting before the US election, Biden wanting a personal moment with his allies. And we're joined this morning on Weekend Sunrise by Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles from Geelong. Good morning to you. We'll get to your beloved Cats shortly, I can see you've got your scarf already. But first, let's go to this meeting at that our PM is having with Biden. What is he hoping to achieve with this?

RICHARD MARLES, ACTING PRIME MINISTER: Well I think is a really significant meeting. It may well be the last meeting between the two of them, certainly in the United States. And I know that throughout Anthony's time as Prime Minister, he's really valued the personal friendship that he's had with Joe Biden. Both of them have a lot in common; they've got enormous experience in their respective systems and that they've come to the top job in both of their countries at such a significant time. And I know that their friendship has meant certainly a lot to our Prime Minister. I mean, we will be talking, obviously, about issues around AUKUS and the defence relationship is central to the alliance. But it's not just that. I'm sure the Prime Minister will be keen to talk about diversifying our supply chains, how Australia's critical minerals can play a role in American supply chains going forward, as well as looking at clean energy cooperation. But I think this is going to be a very significant and poignant meeting between the two of them.

BOWREY: Can I just ask, Albanese is set to raise a few issues with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including that of Indian spies who have been operating on our shores. This is the first time since that nest of spies was revealed that the pair will be meeting. Will it be frosty? How do you think this will play out?

MARLES: Well, I’m not going to go into the specifics of what will occur in a meeting with Prime Minister Modi, but what I would say is that Prime Minister Albanese has a very close relationship with Prime Minister Modi as well. I'm sure this is going to be a very warm meeting. I've seen firsthand how Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Albanese work together and again, our relationship with India is one which is growing significantly across a whole range of domains, including defence, but very much including our economies and trade. And we do have a significant Indian diaspora now in Australia, which is making our countries even closer together. I mean, we will always talk about issues in relation to human rights. There will never be a moment where we don't raise difficult issues if they need to be raised. But, you know, I'll leave that to the Prime Minister. But that doesn't get in the way of what is, in fact, a very warm and growing relationship between ourselves and India.

DORAN: Acting PM, I want to ask you about some issues around immigration this morning. Thousands of Palestinian visa holders were referred to ASIO, this is for security checks, after they were granted approval. ASIO then cancelled a dozen visas, including five that were deemed a threat to Australia's security. What we don't want is this issue politicised, right? But what we do need is some clarity about process. Can you clarify this morning that you think that this process is not being rushed and whether or not there are any security threats?

MARLES: Well, we have enormous confidence in our security agencies and in the system that has applied throughout the time we've been in government, but throughout the time that the Coalition was in government. It's the same system in terms of providing a security overlay for people who come to Australia. And what we know is that every person who came from the Palestinian territories, who's been given an Australian visa was assessed by ASIO. We've been saying all along that ASIO has been doing its job, that we have complete confidence in it as the core security agency in this regard and what we’ve seen, really, on the part– 

DORAN: How would five– acting PM, I'm sorry to interrupt, how would five be deemed a threat to Australia's security if approvals were granted?

MARLES: Well, because what happens– it is an ongoing process. It's not one that stops just when the visa is granted. There is a continual process of assessing people who are in Australia on visas, and if a visa needs to be cancelled, then that's what occurs. And this is completely normal and what's occurred in this instance. But I think what we've seen here is an attempt by the Coalition, literally, to politicise this and to create a scare campaign which represents one big, giant distraction from the fact that they have not one thing to say about the cost of living in this country and the challenges that that represents. I mean, we've been fighting inflation, we've been delivering surplus budgets in that regard, we've been putting in place tax cuts for income earners, looking at ways in which we can give energy rebates. All of our efforts have been around the cost of living, the Coalition have nothing to say on that, and so they created this scare campaign. And in the process, actually, I think they've undermined the work that our security agencies do. You're absolutely right, this should not be politicised. It is exactly the same system that operated when the Coalition were in government. It is doing its job now.

BOWREY: Can we just head to the concerning developments that are happening in the Middle East this morning, Israel strikes in Lebanon killing a top commander. Some commentators are saying that we are on the brink of catastrophe, on the brink of war. What are you saying to Australians who are in that region at the moment?

MARLES: Well, I appreciate that question, because in terms of those Australians who are in Lebanon, and there is a significant number of Australians who are in Lebanon, firstly, look at the travel advisories, but now is the time to leave. And Australians who are seeking to leave Lebanon should take every opportunity they can right now to leave. We are obviously very concerned about what is playing out in the Middle East. It is a human tragedy. We have been exercising our voice internationally to call for a ceasefire, to focus on humanitarian assistance and to do everything that is possible to stop this conflict from escalating. That's why we've encouraged all sides to abide by the proposal that was brokered by the United States, Qatar, Egypt, for a ceasefire. That's what we want to see happen. But in the meantime, it is really important that Australians who are in the region, particularly Lebanon, where there is a large number, take the opportunity to leave.

BOWREY: It feels like that window is closing.

DORAN: Richard Marles, I want you to take off, if you would now, your acting PM hat. You're in Geelong, you look resplendent there in the scarf. I want you to talk about your depth of passion and give them a bit of a pump up speech, if you would. What would you say to them?

MARLES: I'm not taking up my acting PM hat, I'll wear that while I do this.

DORAN: Oh, you can do both?

BOWREY: Wow! 

MARLES: No, no, definitely, this is right. I mean, Geelong, it is hard to conceive of the town of Geelong without the football club. Geelong was incorporated in 1849. The football club began in 1859. So pretty well as long as we've been here, this football club has been a part of the way of life here. And I know that the town is getting very excited. We're very proud of our team. There’s a real sense they represent us. 

DORAN: Ramp up the passion, Mr Marles. Come on!

MARLES: And I think tonight– I mean, the way to conceive of this is that it is something of a David and Goliath contest. You know, we've got a determined, battling regional city against a state metropolis, an olympic city, no less. And this really is a contest between, on the one hand, all that is good and right in the world, and on the other, Brisbane. And so, the whole of Australia is going to be there making sure that they are barracking for Geelong at the MCG tonight.

DORAN: Well, there you go. I'm just going to test you quickly, Richard Marles: Our banners fly high from dawn to dark… 

MARLES: Down at Kardinia Park.

DORAN: Got him. All right, official. I’ll give you that. 

BOWREY: We'll give you that, tick! 

DORAN: Thank you very much, Richard. Great to chat. Good luck tonight. 

MARLES: Pleasure.

ENDS