Television Interview, Sky News

SUBJECT/S: Australia-PNG Defence Treaty; Triple Zero; October 7

PETER STEFANOVIC, HOST: Australia and PNG have finally signed a formal Defence Treaty a few weeks after that slight delay in Port Moresby. It's an effort to bolster regional stability as China tries to broaden its reach and influence in our region. Joining us live from Canberra this morning is the Defence Minister Richard Marles. Minister, it's good to have you with us. So, what was the clincher to get PNG over the line this time after Marape wasn't ready a few weeks ago?

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, RCHARD MARLES: Well look, we've been working on this Pete, since January and we were aiming for a time around the 50th anniversary of independence of PNG. What happened a couple of weeks ago is as it was reported at the time. I mean, there was an inability because everyone was celebrating Independence Day, to get a meeting of cabinet going and it's really nothing more than that. But there's been a very clear support in PNG for this and we're very pleased to get the treaty to this point.

STEFANOVIC: So, there's no extra cost that our taxpayers have to kick in or anything like that?

MARLES: No, and this is not about cost. I mean, this is a very historic moment, but it's a completely natural moment. This is an acknowledgment that any attack on Papua New Guinea engages Australia's interests- obviously, that's the case. The one moment in our history when that occurred during the Second World War, it clearly engaged Australia's interest. And very importantly, this is Papua New Guinea saying the same in reverse and making it very clear, as the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea said yesterday, that their security partner of choice is Australia. And that is a very important declaration from our nearest neighbour. This is only the third alliance that our country has ever had after the United States and New Zealand, which is embodied in the ANZUS Treaty. And in that sense, this is the first alliance that we have signed in more than 70 years. So, this is a deeply historic moment, but it is a very natural moment.

STEFANOVIC: How much do you think this interferes with China's plans in our region?

MARLES: Well, I think this is fundamentally about our relationship with Papua New Guinea. And as I say, this is a natural expression of, you know, the history of our two countries, the affinity between our two countries, the geography of our two countries. There's no doubt that the Pacific today is experiencing more geostrategic contests than it has at any point, really, since the end of the Second World War. And certainly, as I've been involved in engaging in the Pacific, it's never been like it is now. But I've always been of the view that Australia is the natural partner of choice for the countries of the Pacific. Very much we are the natural partner of choice for Papua New Guinea. And provided Australia stands up and engages in the way that we should, which is what we are doing, that's a fact which will be expressed and realised. And we are seeing that in the form of this agreement today.

STEFANOVIC: We're not the partner of choice, though, for Vanuatu, it seems. How likely is it to get a deal done with Vanuatu?

MARLES: No, I think we are the partner of choice for Vanuatu and, you know, we are looking at a transformative agreement there as well. It is very much an agreement which, which lifts our relationship to a different level and that's a difficult and very significant step to take, but one that I believe both of our countries want to take. It doesn't surprise me that it would take some time in order to do that, but I'm confident in the not too distant future you will see us be able to sign the agreement that we are planning with Vanuatu- 

STEFANOVIC: Will that mean we have to pay more money because we can't compete with the finances of China?

MARLES: It's about Australia playing its part and the part that we should be playing as the natural partner of choice in the Pacific. I mean, for Vanuatu, their relationship with Australia is obviously more important than their relationship with any other country in the world. Again, history, geography define that. Their access to our economy, the Seasonal Workers Program which is in place right now, is seeing a significant proportion of Vanuatu's GDP being remitted back to Vanuatu by virtue of Ni-Vanuatu working in the horticultural sector in Australia, I mean, that's just one example. But you look at tourism and tourism is a huge part of the Vanuatu economy and the vast bulk of those who are going there are Australians. In every sense, we are connected together and this, the agreement that we are seeking to pursue with Vanuatu reflects that.

STEFANOVIC: When you say not too distant future in terms of getting a deal done, is that weeks? Is that months?

MARLES: Look, I'm not going to speculate on that, but in the context of the normal time it would take to conclude an agreement of this kind, things have moved in fact, very swiftly between ourselves and Vanuatu and I feel confident that we will conclude this agreement.

STEFANOVIC: Just back on PNG- James Marape said that PNG would stay neutral in any future conflict involving Australia and China. But if PNG troops join our military, wouldn't they have to be involved?

MARLES: : Well, one of the things that the agreement contemplates, and we've been talking about this for some time now, is the direct recruitment of Papua New Guineans into the Australian Defence Force. And we will be now taking the steps to work up the process by which that occurs. And indeed, the first step will happen from the 1st of January next year, just in a few months, when PNG permanent residents in Australia will be eligible to join the Australian Defence Force. James Marape could not have been clearer yesterday in his comments in saying that the security partner of choice for Papua New Guinea is Australia. They are making that choice- literally the words he used. And PNG citizens serving in the Australian Defence Force and they will then become Australian citizens as well, is very much a part of that.

STEFANOVIC: Right, but they would have to be involved in any future conflict with China right, if they're in our military?

MARLES: Well, I'm not about to speculate on conflict with anyone, but obviously any member of the Australian Defence Force acts in accordance with the directions which are given to it by the government of the day.

STEFANOVIC: Okay, alright, just a final one here, Richard, on Triple Zero, just in a different role as Deputy Prime Minister, I want to ask you this: have you got faith in the system moving forward? I know it's going to be discussed in Parliament today.

MARLES: I do. And you know, we are engaging very closely with the telecommunications companies, obviously Optus, but all the telcos. Triple Zero is a really important service. We expect the obligations that are given by the telecommunications companies in putting in place the Triple Zero service, that those obligations are met. And that is obviously what we have been talking with Optus about, when this has previously been looked at after the previous outage a couple of years ago, the recommendations that came through the ACMA report have been or are being implemented by the government. One of those is having a Triple Zero watchdog and will be strengthening its powers. But we are continually looking at how we can make sure the service is as robust and resilient as possible. But I fundamentally do have confidence.

STEFANOVIC: All right, and just a final one, a quick one here. It's these planned protests for October 7th. Would you be hoping or pleading that they don't go ahead in or wherever they might be planned in Australia?

MARLES: Yeah, I would be, Pete. I mean, today is not a day for protest. On this day two years ago, more than 1,200 innocent people lost their lives in an appalling terrorist attack. And that means that this day can only be one thing, and that is a day of commemoration and a day of remembrance. It's a very solemn day for the Jewish community in Australia, but in fact, the Jewish community around the world and obviously in Israel. And, you know, our thoughts are very much with those families in Israel who lost loved ones. And today is a day to remember them.

STEFANOVIC: Richard Marles, the Defence Minister, appreciate your time as always. We'll chat again soon.

ENDS