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The Hon Richard Marles MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Defence
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17 October 2024
SUBJECT/S: Support for Ukraine; Housing; Cost of living; Culture in parliament
HOST, SARAH ABO: Well, Australia is providing Ukraine with a major defence boost this morning, sending 49 tanks to Europe to combat Russia. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles joins us live now. Richard, good to see you, as always. This is a $245 million commitment. I guess it suggests there's no end in sight for this ongoing war and that we're in it for the long haul.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, RICHARD MARLES: Well, we're definitely in it for the long haul, Sarah, and it is very hard to predict when this will be over. And so, certainly what we are trying to do is make sure that we stay with Ukraine for the journey, that we are there and so that they can resolve this on their own terms. And we try and make sure that in the process of that, that our contributions are ongoing but sustainable. But this is a very significant package. As you said, it's $245 million worth, 49 Abrams tanks. These are our frontline tanks that will make a really big difference on the battlefield and we'll make sure that they get there in a manner where we're able to sustain and maintain them and see if they make a difference.
ABO: Yeah, we have already seen how much of an impact and difference it has made to the war, the efforts that we've made, which is great to see. Um, Deputy Prime Minister, I just want to get you on some other things as well. This morning, your office made headlines last week after your Chief of Staff made those bullying allegations. Does your office have a bullying problem?
MARLES: No, it doesn't. And I made a statement in the Parliament last week. I mean, obviously, I feel very sad that this situation has got to the point that it has. And as I said last week, you know, Jo Tarnawsky is somebody who I've known a long time, who worked with me right back in 2012, and I'm very grateful for the service that she's provided to me then and now. This matter is now in the hands of lawyers, which is obviously Jo's right. And it's very difficult for me, as a result, to comment much on it further.
ABO: Yeah, no, I do appreciate that. But does something like this, I guess, force the office or force Government in general, really, to sort of reflect on the highest standards of behaviour that the public does expect?
MARLES: Well, we certainly do expect the highest standards of behaviour within the offices of members of parliament, within the offices of Ministers. It's been something that we have been very focused on as a Government. But to be fair, I think this is an issue that's been focused on across the parliament. It's often said that our workplaces should be exemplars in terms of the way in which employment occurs. And that's certainly why what I seek to do within my office, and I know and please do the same. When the Jenkins Report came down, it made a number of recommendations. We've committed to all of them and followed them through. So, we continue to do this. But I wouldn't for a moment say that the job's done like, you know, it's an ongoing work in progress to make sure that Parliament is a good place to work.
ABO: All right, Richard. Also, you would have seen the headlines that have been made the past 24 hours about the PM's latest addition to what the Daily Telegraph is claiming is an eight point million dollar real estate portfolio. How do you reckon that looks during this cost of living crisis? Does it suggest the PM is out of touch?
MARLES: Well, I think the Prime Minister is entitled to his own personal affairs and his own private life, and obviously the property that he and his partner purchase sit in that domain. I don't think Australia is going to be particularly interested in that. I think what Australians are interested in is what the Prime Minister does when he comes to work each year.
ABO: Well, I think the Australians are probably the voters interested, Richard, just respectfully, on their own issues at the moment. And that includes not being able to afford a house in this cost of living crisis and the shortage as well. I mean, the Fin Review this morning is reporting that the PAm was counselled by colleagues, those within his own ranks, against making this purchase because they were concerned about the optics. I mean, how do you feel about these optics?
MARLES: I think it's a matter for the Prime Minister, and it really is something which is in his personal life. But where I agree with what you've just said, Sarah, is that what Australians are interested in is their own affairs and how the government can work to help them in that. And I know that the Prime Minister comes into work each and every day. We are focused on the cost of living pressures that are facing Australians. You know, the most significant thing we can do there in the face of a global inflationary environment, that which Australia is not immune, is to deliver surpluses. And we've been in power for two years, we've delivered two surpluses, something the opposition never did when they are in government, despite promising they would do that every year. That war on inflation is starting to succeed. And where we are spending money, we are focused on dealing with the cost of living, including in respect of housing. I mean, the Housing Australia Future Fund is enabling thousands of new social housing and low cost housing to be built. We would have liked to have done the help to buy legislation, but we didn’t. We faced the opposition of the Coalition and the Greens.
ABO: Okay, Deputy PM, I do want to get your thoughts on something else really important. How do you feel about snagging Bailey Smith? He's going to be at the Cats next year. That's got to put a smile on your dial, doesn't it?
MARLES: I was quietly confident throughout the trade period that this would be done but you're right. I was checking the Geelong Cats app right through to the deadline and we got it done with 15 minutes to spare. He is going to be awesome. I think his football is proportionate to his social media following and that gives us a lot of confidence about what he's going to bring to the Cats next year.
ABO: Hopefully he doesn't bring it too much to the Cats next year. Deputy PM, thanks so much for joining us. Appreciate it.