Television Interview, Today Show

SUBJECTS: Conflict in the Middle East; Fuel supply

HOST, SARAH ABO: Well the Albanese Government is this morning ruling out sending a ship to help the U.S. reopen the Strait of Hormuz. To discuss, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles joins us now from Canberra. Good morning to you, Deputy PM.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, RICHARD MARLES: Good morning, Sarah. 

ABO: So, Donald Trump is getting very cross with his allies, like the UK PM, who, in his view, aren't pulling their weight. Are you worried about invoking the ire of the U.S. President?

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, RICHARD MARLES: Well, I mean, look, we work closely with the United States, as we do with all of our friends and allies, and I'm not worried about that. And Australia, in a whole range of scenarios around the world, absolutely pulls its weight. And right now we are focused on our E-7 Wedgetail, which is in the Middle East - it is operational. We've done that, actually, at the request of the United Arab Emirates. It's acting in defence of the states of the Gulf, and it's a very significant commitment and we've not done it slightly, but it is making a difference.

ABO: Well, I mean, I suppose Australia probably doesn't even have the naval power to provide any viable assistance, but when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz, I mean, it's in our interests for this to be cleared as quickly as possible. We're seeing what it's doing to oil. It's not something that is sustainable in this country.

MARLES: Well, there's a few things in the question, Sarah. I mean, firstly, I don't accept the first premise, we have a really capable navy. Look, the point to make here is we've not received a request from the United States in respect of the Straits of Hormuz. I mean, we're not contemplating sending a ship, but we've not received a request. And so all of you know, this is premature-

ABO: Why wouldn't you- why wouldn't you contemplate sending one if it meant that it could provide some assistance and alleviate the pressures on oil?

MARLES: Well, as I said, we haven't received a request and when we get requests we work- 

ABO: Do you need to receive one though?

MARLES: Yes, and we work through them in terms of what is the best way in which we can contribute, if that is in the national interest. And obviously, all the requests that we receive, we firstly look to, from the perspective, what is Australia's national interest? And that's why we've walked down the path of supplying an E-7 in the defence of the Gulf States, where there are a lot of Australians. Clearly, it is in the global interest to see the Straits of Hormuz open. I mean, we just need to work through this in a methodical way, and at this point we've not received any request.

ABO: Some might say though, Deputy PM that you're not working through this quickly enough. I mean we just had a farmer on literally minutes ago. They're coming up with their own solutions. They're asking people in the city to catch public transport and for the government, you know state based levels obviously, to provide free assistance when it comes to that because they need fuel. You're releasing the extra fuel today. But how long before this actually trickles down and has an impact and how long before even that runs out?

MARLES: Well, as you said, what we've done is released 20 per cent of the national stockpile- that's 760 million litres of additional fuel. We are working with those who hold it, which is the fuel companies, and it'll take a bit of time to get out there but we are hoping that that rolls out in the coming days. We've also loosened the sulphur standards, which means there's an additional 100 million litres of fuel-

ABO: Has that been approved? Just on that, Deputy PM. I'm sorry to pick you up on that.

MARLES: Yes, that has been approved and that's 100 litres- 100 million litres I should say, per month. We've loosened those standards for the next 60 days. All of that is, is about getting more fuel out there. And in terms of this, we are targeting the regions, places where there are the greatest needs. So, we are doing everything within our power to see fuel get to where it is required. What we are really saying of Australians right now is to go about your business as you normally would. We very much understand the pressure, particularly in the regions where there are fuel shortages that is being felt there, and that's why we are acting in the way that we are. But at this- you go Sarah.

ABO: I was just going to say is it possible for the ADF to deploy tankers capable of moving that fuel? Distribution seems to be an issue.

MARLES: Well again, in terms of the ADF acting, doing anything in a domestic context that requires the request of the relevant state governments and there's good reason why that should be the case. But I think there is the capacity within the private sector and those fuel companies - 

ABO: But hang on, we are in a crisis, aren't we? I mean if you've got those levers, why wouldn't you pull them?

MARLES: Well, as I'm saying, the ADF, in terms of the ADF acting domestically, actually the levers exist with states in terms of requesting that. And that exists for good reason because the ADF's primary function is you've got-

ABO: I’m sorry, you have got farmers out there who don't have fuel. So, why wouldn't the states help them in that capacity if it's available to them?

MARLES: Look, I think we're getting ahead of ourselves in terms of that line of questions because there is the capacity amongst the fuel companies to get the fuel out there and that is happening as we speak and we are hoping to see that fuel get to the regions in-

ABO: We literally had the New South Wales Energy Minister yesterday tell us that the distribution is the issue in New South Wales.

MARLES: Well again, the fuel companies have that capacity in terms of anything that the defence might have to offer here. It is a matter for the states to request that. But actually I think the fundamental capacity to get fuel out there is going to lie with the fuel companies. And so that's where this is at. I'm not sure that defence is going to make a material difference to this in the next couple of days. What we need to do and what we have done is to release that fuel and that's been a really important step and that will get to those petrol stations in the coming days.

ABO: All right Minister, thanks so much for joining us today, really appreciate it.

MARLES: Thank you.