Television Interview, Today Show

SUBJECTS: G7; Australia-United States Relationship; AUKUS; Middle East Conflict.

HOST, KARL STEFANOVIC: The conflict casting a shadow over the G7 summit. Joining us now to discuss is Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles. Richard, good morning to you. Thanks for your time. A bit on. Look, how much time do we realistically expect with Donald Trump given what's happening?

ACTING PRIME MINISTER, RICHARD MARLES: Well, look, it's an important meeting between the Prime Minister and President Trump. It's their first face-to-face meeting. I mean it is in the sidelines obviously of the G7, but I'm sure it's going to be a great opportunity for them to build rapport which is obviously really important for the first face-to-face meeting of two new leaders, but also to talk about issues such as tariffs and such as AUKUS.

STEFANOVIC: Obviously the Middle East is going to be right up there. Amanda Rishworth didn't really answer this earlier. Does the government support Israel?

MARLES: Well, we understand the threat to the world really of peace and stability of Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program. That said, what we are very much urging at this moment, as is the United States, as is the United Kingdom, France, Germany and so many others, is dialogue and diplomacy. We're very concerned in this moment about the prospects for this escalating into something that is broader. And it is really important that both parties are prioritising dialogue and diplomacy in this manner.

HOST, SARAH ABO: It also really highlights the global uncertainty that we're living in and I suppose how vulnerable we as a nation are as well. I mean, the PM is going to meet with Donald Trump. He'll likely discuss obviously AUKUS. How safe do we feel at the moment in terms of the AUKUS deal, but also just our broader security in this region?

MARLES: Well, in respect of AUKUS, we keep moving ahead very firmly with AUKUS and all the signs from the United States are positive about AUKUS. That's the important point to make, in the conversations I've had with my counterpart, in all that's been said in America. They understand the strategic benefit in relation to AUKUS for them. And it is important right now because as you rightly say, we are facing a very strategic complex world, in many ways a very strategically threatening world. And it's why it is so important that we are moving forward as a nation in terms of acquiring this long range submarine capability. But it's also what's really important for the United States, for example, to be working with us to up its production and sustainment rate of Virginia class submarines for the United States Navy. Why it's really important that they can operate from HMAS Stirling, south of Perth, given its strategic location.

ABO: But as you know, Richard, the issue with the US is they want us to increase our defence spending. You've spoken to Pete Hegseth, your US counterpart. They want it to be up to 3.5 per cent. You're going to be dogged by those demands by the Trump administration for the remaining three and a half years they’re in power. And it's hard to argue against it given we are so isolated where we are and we are so vulnerable to our neighbours.

MARLES: Well, the point to make this, Sarah, is that we have increased our defence spending- 

ABO: Not by as much as they'd like. 

MARLES: We've engaged in the biggest peacetime increase in defence spending in Australia's history. That's the fact of the matter. And we will continue to look at what we need as a nation in terms of our national security needs, in terms of our defence needs, and we'll resource it. And the Prime Minister has been utterly clear about that. So, we'll continue to walk forward in, in respect of that. And what you've seen from this government is firstly, a willingness to assess our strategic circumstances and to know what it is that we need to have for our defence force and then to resource it even in circumstances where that has given rise to very significant increases in defence spending.

STEFANOVIC: Sarah's point is a good one, though. I mean, what leg do stand on? I mean, who's going to come to our rescue? The US. So, if the US wants us to increase our spending as part of a relationship that's been ongoing for a long, long time, then why would we say no?

MARLES: Well, that's a conversation we will respectfully have with the United States. We've made that clear as well. And we've also made clear that where our defence needs need resourcing, we will do it. And we have been doing it over the last three years in a way which has seen the biggest peacetime increase in defence spending in Australia's history. And that is a fact which is very much understood by the United States. I mean, we are all on a journey, every nation, in terms of the defence spending that it engages in. What people have seen with this government is a government which is willing to increase defence spending and to look very thoughtfully and carefully about what our strategic needs are and to resource them.

ABO: I guess the other big agenda item on the PM's list would be, of course, those tariffs. But I guess the issue, Richard, is at the moment, given so much global uncertainty that barely is a factor for Donald Trump. So, how do you, in the short time that you have with the US President in this fireside chat they're going to have, discuss something like tariffs, which really impacts us little compared to what's happening globally right now.

MARLES: We'll continue to make the case in relation to tariffs. I mean, we are a trading island nation with a growing reliance on trade in terms of our national income and prosperity. We have always advocated for an open global trading system. We'll continue to make that argument to the United States.

STEFANOVIC: Will we take refugees from Israel and Iran over the next short period?

MARLES: Well, look, I think it's way too early to start speculating about any of that. I mean, right now what we need to see is an emphasis on both parties in terms of dialogue and diplomacy. It is, it is really important that we do not see this escalating further. That is obviously our great concern as it is the concern of the world, which is why you see such a loud chorus of voices from around the world, including the United States and the United Kingdom ourselves, to urge diplomacy and dialogue in this moment. 

STEFANOVIC: This will have flow on effects here, most notably short term fuel prices.

MARLES: Well, we're very mindful of the impact on the economy. And you're right to highlight fuel prices. We're obviously very mindful of the impact on the oil price and we have seen that go up over the course of the last few days while this conflict has been ongoing. I mean, it has an impact, it will have an impact on the global economy. That's what conflicts do. That's what we've seen, you know, with the war in Ukraine. And that is an inevitable consequence of conflict of this kind.

STEFANOVIC: All right, lots on. Richard, always appreciate your time. Thank you so much.

ABO: Thank you, Richard. 

ENDS