Doorstop Interview, Parliament House

SUBJECTS: Australia-PNG Defence Treaty; October 7

JOURNALIST: Were you surprised that Prime Minister Marape wasn't so keen on the idea of PNG being involved in a conflict with China?

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Firstly, we're not about to speculate in relation to any conflicts with any particular country. I mean, this is a partnership for peace. Prime Minister Marape has made that very clear. Look, the agreement that we have now signed with Papua New Guinea is very historic, but it's actually very natural. What it provides is that if there is an armed attack in respect of one country, it engages the interests of the other. Now that is, in fact, the reality. I mean, it is unimaginable that were there an armed attack on Papua New Guinea, it wouldn't engage our interest. And in the one occasion that's occurred in our history, during the Second World War, we were obviously there. But really importantly, what this is, is Papua New Guinea making clear that it is making a choice in terms of who its security partner is – and that is Australia. And Prime Minister Marape was utterly clear in respect of that on numerous occasions when asked yesterday.

JOURNALIST: But it's not quite a guaranteed commitment to engage in a military conflict in the event of an attack?

MARLES: Well, the words in the agreement are very much the same as those in the ANZUS agreement between New Zealand and the United States. Obviously the agreement respects the sovereignty of our countries, as the ANZUS agreement does as well, but this is very much a mutual defence obligation. This is an Alliance – just as we have an Alliance with the United States, just as we have an Alliance with New Zealand. And that is perfectly natural given the affinity that we have with Papua New Guinea, given our history, given our geography, and in that sense, it's a hugely historic and significant treaty that we've signed. 

JOURNALIST: But it does seem to fall short of a mutual obligation, if the Prime Minister is already saying that if there was a conflict with one particular country, PNG wouldn't engage?

MARLES: This is a mutual defence obligation. It's making absolutely clear that an armed attack on one of our countries engages the interests of the other. And that is what an alliance is. And in that sense, this is the first time we have entered into an agreement of this kind with another country since 1951 and PNG, along with New Zealand and America, is now our third alliance partner, our third ally.

JOURNALIST: If there was a conflict with China, would Australia expect PNG to participate in that conflict? 

MARLES: Well, as I say, the last thing I'm about to do is speculate on conflicts with particular countries. What this is, is a partnership for peace. This is about PNG and Australia making a commitment to each other that we see each other's territory as fundamentally important to the interests of our own. And that is at the heart of what this agreement is. And in that sense, it is a very significant step, albeit a very natural step, which, in fact, reflects the reality of our history and the reality of our close relationship. I mean, we are more than friends. We are family, and that's what this Treaty embodies.

JOURNALIST: And just very quickly, obviously, October 7 today, what is the government's position on any protests or demonstrations happening today?

MARLES: Well, today is not a day for protest or demonstration. I mean, on this day, two years ago, more than 1,200 innocent people lost their lives in Israel. This day can be only one thing, that is a day of commemoration and remembrance of those who died. It is a deeply solemn day. We are very much thinking of the Jewish community in Australia. We're thinking of the Jewish community in fact, around the world, and we are very much thinking about the families of those who lost their lives. Thank you. 

ENDS