Television Interview, Sky News First Edition

SUBJECTS: Conflict in the Middle East; Fuel supply

PETER STEFANOVIC, HOST: Minister Marles, good to see you this morning. So, as he just pointed out, there's been, according to him, a rush of nations who have said that they were enthusiastic about supporting the United States in their bid to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. Wouldn't name them, though. Are we one of those nations?

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, at this point, Pete, we've not received a request from the United States in relation to the Straits of Hormuz. So, that's actually where the situation lies. I mean, we've received a number of requests during the course of this conflict. And what we do is we work through them in a considered way, obviously focusing on Australia's national interest, and where we've been able to help, we have. And that's what has seen us deploy our E-7 Wedgetail at the request of the United Arab Emirates, which is a significant contribution and one which is operational as we speak, and one which is making a difference. And that's the process that we go through and will continue to go through.

STEFANOVIC: But as for the US side of things, the US has made no request from us?

MARLES: They've not. I mean, at this point, they haven't. We'll see what transpires over the coming days. But as we speak this morning, we've not got a request.

STEFANOVIC: So, I mean, what do you do? I mean, if the US asks — I mean, Trump had made the point earlier that many Western nations, including us, rely on that fuel out of that strait. So, should we be doing more to help if they were to ask?

MARLES: Well, I mean, it depends on the nature of the ask, and I don't want to speculate on that. I mean, when requests are made, we all understand what each other's capabilities are, and this tends to be a situation where people will go into, you know, what may help. At this point, we've not received a request, so I'm not going to speculate on what it may or may not be.

STEFANOVIC: As for our assets on the ground, have you got anything to report this morning with how they're doing? Are they active yet in the actual war?

MARLES: Yes, they are. And so our E-7 is operating now and has been doing a really good job, and there's 85 personnel who go with it. They obviously don't all fly, but they are there and supporting the aircraft, and it is making a difference in defence of the Gulf countries, and particularly the United Arab Emirates. And it's in respect of that country's request that we deploy this. I would say more broadly, we've got more than 200 personnel who are across the region in different roles, and we do have a latent presence in the Middle East. As you know, we've got an operational headquarters in the UAE at the Al Minhad Air Base. So, there are a number of Australian serving personnel who are in the region, and they are all accounted for and safe. They're all doing a great job.

STEFANOVIC: All right, Minister, closer to home now — by saying there was enough fuel originally, then calling it a crisis, to now releasing an emergency supply of petrol and diesel, were you caught flat-footed on this?

MARLES: No, I don't accept that. I mean, look, firstly, we very much understand the pressures that people are facing where there are fuel shortages. And as we speak, it is actually the same amount of fuel that is coming into the country that has come in. But we're mindful that, as you know, if this conflict does go on for a period of time, it has the capacity to obviously impact the supply of fuel to Australia. With that in mind, we've released 20% of the national stockpile, and we've targeted the regions in respect of that — places where there is the greatest need. And as you know, we've also loosened the regulations around sulphur, which means that more fuel is able to be put into the market as well. And our expectation is that all of that will hit bowsers in the coming days. So, you know, we are doing what is within our power to help this situation. And what we're asking of Australians right now is to go about their business as normal. And that, I think, is a really important message.

STEFANOVIC: Can you guarantee we won't run out of fuel?

MARLES: Well, I mean, we will do everything in our power to respond to this situation. I mean, in part we're being really honest, you know, at the heart of a whole lot of questions in respect of this is: how long will this conflict go on? And obviously I can't answer that question, but we will respond to the situation as it evolves in the most prudent way. As we speak right now, the same volume of fuel is coming to the country as it was before this conflict started. It's why we are saying to people just to go about their business as normal. But you know, clearly, if the conflict does go on for some period of time, the Straits of Hormuz are not open, that is going to have an impact on the global supply chain.

STEFANOVIC: I mean, it's quite, quite stark, isn't it, that you can't give a guarantee that we won't run out of fuel.

MARLES: Well, I mean, I'm just not going to speculate on the future because I don't know how long this conflict will go in the Middle East. But we will be working through this in a very prudent way. And right now, I reiterate, the same amount of fuel is coming into the country today as was coming in prior to this conflict starting.

STEFANOVIC: Okay, that's the Defence Minister Richard Marles. Appreciate that, Minister. We'll talk to you again soon.