Doorstop Interview, Avalon Airport

SUBJECTS: Australia’s relationship with Israel; Ukraine peace discussions; Defence spending; Protests

JOURNALIST: Deputy Prime Minister, we’ve seen Israel revoking visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority. What do you make of that and Israel revoking Australian visas?

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Look, this is a disappointing and unjustified reaction to Australia and our decision around the recognition of a Palestinian state. This is a moment where we need to be promoting dialogue between our countries, and this is a very disappointing and unjustified step, which has been taken by Israel.

JOURNALIST: Is this the sort of fallout that the federal government expected when it supported a two-state, sort of two-state scenario in the Middle East?

MARLES: Well, the step that we’ve taken in respect of the recognition of Palestine is consistent with a long-held position of successive Australian Governments around supporting a two-state solution. And obviously this is a decision that’s been made in the wake of decisions that have been made by countries like the United Kingdom, countries like France and Canada. So we are very much within the mainstream of the international community, which has always supported a two-state solution, and in that context, what we want to see is, in this moment, dialogue between nations, and that’s why we regard this as a very disappointing and unjustified reaction.

JOURNALIST: So it’s unjustified. Did you anticipate that there might be fallout like this?

MARLES: As I say, we regard this as a disappointing and unjustified step that is being taken by Israel. This is a moment where we need to be promoting dialogue, and that’s where the Australian Government stands.

JOURNALIST: Israel’s Foreign Minister accused the Australian Government of fuelling antisemitism by rejecting the visa application of Simcha Rothman. Excuse me if I got the pronunciation of that wrong. How do you reflect on that?

MARLES: Well, obviously, we very much reject that assertion. Social cohesion in this country is absolutely paramount, and every Australian has a right to exist in this country and to live their lives without fear. We’ve made clear our concerns in respect of antisemitism, and we have taken significant steps in terms of operations from the Federal Police and the like, to work with the Jewish community to provide for their safety. There is no place for antisemitism in this country, and we stand absolutely and resolutely opposed to antisemitism, and we will do everything within our power to make sure that this does not happen, and that is consistent with a position of seeking to promote social cohesion within this country.

JOURNALIST: Locally, yesterday, there was a protest at a hairdressing salon where an Israeli man says he was refused a haircut on the basis of him being Israeli. And certainly, I guess, a concern amongst the people who were protesting there was that the support of a two-state solution has emboldened acts like that. What would you say to those people who have those concerns?

MARLES: There is no place for antisemitism in this country, there is no place for prejudice and bigotry, and the Albanese Government stands resolutely opposed to all. We stand in support of the Australian Jewish community, who are a central part of our nation. Every Australian has a right to go about their life free from prejudice. Every Australian has a right to go about their life in safety, and we will do everything to stand with the Australian Jewish community to ensure that that is what occurs in the future.

JOURNALIST: Just to come back to Simcha Rothman briefly, can you just be really clear about the Australian Government’s reasons in revoking that visa for Mr Rothman?

MARLES: Well, we have always, as I said, stood for promoting social cohesion in this country. We are very protective of social cohesion in this country, and we have always been mindful of that in terms of the visas that have been granted where people seek to come to this country to provide messages which are divisive in their nature. That’s the way in which we have always undertaken the assessment of whether or not to grant visas in those circumstances.

JOURNALIST: So yeah, just Israel has called the cancellation of that visa unjustified. What do you say to that?

MARLES: I disagree and reiterate the point that I’ve just made.

JOURNALIST: Are you concerned that Israel has cancelled visas for Australian representatives to the PA, the Palestinian Authority, in retaliation?

MARLES: Well, the statement from Israel is clear that this is a reaction to the decision that Australia has made in relation to the recognition of a Palestinian state. And as I say, that is a very disappointing and an unjustified reaction. The recognition of a Palestinian state that we have announced is consistent with what’s been announced by countries like the United Kingdom, like Canada, like France. We are very much in the mainstream of like-minded countries in respect of this, and it is entirely consistent with a long-held view of successive Australian Governments around supporting a two-state solution.

JOURNALIST: And if Ukraine and Russia reach a peace deal, will Australia be sending peacekeeping troops?

MARLES: Well, firstly, we welcome any constructive attempts to bring about peace in Ukraine. Clearly, anything which brings an end to the tragedy which is unfolding in Ukraine is welcome. That said, it is really important that any peace is on Ukraine’s terms, and we have been very clear that we stand with Ukraine, that what happened here was Russia, in an unjustified way, invaded Ukraine. It was an immoral and illegal step which really violates the global rules-based order, and that is what is on trial in the war in Ukraine, which is very much why we stand with Ukraine. Now, we’ve made clear that we are part of a coalition of the willing in terms of whatever needs to be done in a post-peace world in respect of Ukraine, and we continue to maintain that position and participate in those conversations about how Australia could make a contribution in that moment. But right now, what we need to see is that if there is to be a peace in Ukraine, that it is one which is done on Ukraine’s terms.

JOURNALIST: So Donald Trump has offered President Zelensky – sort of said that he will ensure the US will provide security for Ukraine on the back of peace talks. What do you make of that? I guess we’ve seen some varying perspectives from the US President in recent days.

MARLES: Well, I think we welcome any attempts to constructively bring about peace in Ukraine. Clearly, that would be a very good outcome, but it needs to be a peace which is on Ukraine’s terms, and that is fundamentally important, and we continue very much to stand with Ukraine in that respect.

JOURNALIST: Do you think Donald Trump, in offering that security to Ukraine, would do that along the terms that you outlined?

MARLES: Well, again, we welcome constructive attempts to try and bring about peace. Obviously, this is difficult, but a peace needs to be on Ukraine’s terms. That’s been the consistent position of the Australian Government. If peace is achieved, then a role for the Australian Government is one, and Australian personnel is one, that we are absolutely willing to explore. We’ve made that clear from the outset, and that’s why we continue to participate in conversations as a party, if you like, to the coalition, in good willing, in terms of how Ukraine’s security can be maintained going into the future. Right now, though, what we need to be doing is making sure that as conversations and steps are taken towards achieving some kind of peace that it is very much done on Ukraine’s terms.

JOURNALIST: We’ve just been talking about conflicts in Gaza, conflicts in Ukraine. Is Australia ramping up its defence spending and preparation for a conflict?

MARLES: Firstly, what we seek to do is to deter conflict. At the heart of our strategic position is about trying to contribute to the peace and stability of the region in which we live and the world in which we live. But we’ve made it really clear since coming to government that we live in a moment in time where our strategic circumstances are deeply complex, and that’s why you have seen us significantly increase defence spending already. We’ve been engaged in the biggest peacetime increase in Australian defence spending in our nation’s history, and that is a reflection of the complex strategic circumstances that our nation faces today.

JOURNALIST: We’re seeing plans form up for nationwide protests on Sunday, protests calling to stop arming Israel. What do you hope to see in those protests? And, I guess, is there an element of those protests that your government supports at all?

MARLES: So there’s a few protests going on. So, just so I’m really clear about your question – which one, protests in Brisbane?

JOURNALIST: Look, there’s sort of nationwide protests. I think it’s been touted as maybe Australia’s biggest protest movement. Like you say, there’s a number of protests happening across the board, but there seems to be some sort of, I guess, unified organisation to hold them all at the same time in support of the same sorts of causes.

MARLES: Well, I think there are different causes going on. So, if we’re talking about protests in support of Palestine, then Australians have a right to engage in peaceful protests and to have their voice heard. And obviously we very much respect that right on the terms where protests are done in a peaceful and respectful way.

JOURNALIST: I guess if it plays out that we see mass protests, and it is maybe one of the biggest protest movements in a single day that we do see in history, do you feel that sort of vindicates, I guess, the support of a two-state solution?

MARLES: Look, the decision that the Government has made is one which has comes in the context of what we have seen with the international community, but also very much in the context of a long-held position of successive Australian Governments around supporting a two-state solution. Now, ultimately, we’ve made the decision that we have made because the only way there will be an enduring peace in the Middle East is if there are two states. And that is a position about which we have been very clear.

JOURNALIST: You’re a local member, you’re a member for here in Victoria. We’ve seen regular protests in Melbourne, the state government has spoken about bolstering protest laws, things like exclusion zones. Do you have a stance on whether the state government should do that sort of thing?

MARLES: Well, I mean, Australians have a right to engage in peaceful protests, but the protest needs to be done though in a manner which is peaceful and in a manner which is respectable, and that’s what needs to occur. People are able to protest in this country and do so cooperatively with the authorities, and that’s the way in which messages from those protests are best heard.

ENDS