Television Interview, Sky News First Edition

SUBJECTS: Middle East Conflict; Fuel Supply; Prime Minister's National Address

PETER STEFANOVIC, HOST: Joining us live out of Canberra now is the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles. Minister, good to see you this morning. Thanks for your time. So, what was the point of the Prime Minister's address overnight?

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think Australians understandably feel a sense of anxiety, faced with the biggest shocks to petrol and diesel prices ever. And as we move into Easter, it's appropriate that the Prime Minister speaks directly with the Australian people about that — about what people are experiencing, about what is still to come, but most importantly, about what the government is doing and what Australians can do. And it is really important that the Prime Minister is able to speak directly to the Australian people in a moment such as this. And it was very appropriate and important that he did that last night.

STEFANOVIC: But he stopped the nation to tell us what we already know?

MARLES: Well, I don't accept that. I think it was — you know, I think a lot of Australians.

STEFANOVIC: Well, which part didn’t we know —

MARLES: Well, I think Australians are trying to work through what it is that people should be doing, in the context of what we are facing right now. There is an enormous amount of anxiety. There was obviously reassurance about what the government is doing, but also that Australians, as we move through this in the coming weeks and months, can play a part as well. And that's, you know, about going about your Easter holiday as you normally would. But in the coming weeks, if there are options to not use petrol, there are options to take public transport, for example. Some people have those options, some don't, but if you can do that, take those options. But it's also to say that we are working with the states. We have a National Fuel Security Plan in place. We will approach this in a calm and methodical way, and together we will get through this. And I think that's an absolutely important thing for the Prime Minister to say directly to the Australian people.

STEFANOVIC: In my view, it was notable for what wasn't said. So, the one standout line being the months ahead may not be easy. It feels like you need to elaborate on that point. So, what exactly should we be prepared for?

MARLES: Well, the National Fuel Security Plan goes through this, but, I mean, one of the difficulties here, Pete, and I can understand the question, is that, you know, there is uncertainty about the months ahead. I mean, we are seeing the global fuel supply chain being disrupted. It may be that there is much more disruption to come. We have seen the biggest shock to petrol and diesel prices ever. It may be that there is more in store, and that takes time to work through the system. So, exactly how the next few months unfold is unclear. But what we have done with the National Fuel Security Plan is to work with the states so that we are in a position to take further steps in terms of the management of demand, in terms of distribution, if those steps need to be taken. Right now, we're not taking those steps right now. The message is very much, you know, go about business as usual. But if you can prudently not use fuel, then take those steps. And if you can't, you can't. Whether we need to take more steps going forward — that is outlined in the National Fuel Security Plan. But at this point, we don't need to take that step.

STEFANOVIC: So, will fuel rationing be announced after the Easter break?

MARLES: Well, again, I mean, that's the kind of question that I understand people want certainty about. We are not making that announcement now. And, and it's not inevitable that that happens. It's, you know, it is unclear exactly what is going to play out in the Middle East war, and that's obviously what is driving this. I don't know when this ends, and there's no one in the country who knows that. And so the answers, you know, to a lot of these questions depend on how that plays out. So, what we are left to do, therefore, is to work out a whole lot of scenarios going forward. That's what the National Fuel Security Plan does. It does talk about how we might manage demand going forward, if that is necessary. At this moment, it isn't judged to be necessary, but we're clearly contemplating that. And from there, all we can do is then take this a day at a time.

STEFANOVIC: Minister, are we joining a 35-nation alliance to help secure the Strait of Hormuz?

MARLES: Well, we are participating in that, in the meeting which is happening in the next 24 hours. And obviously we did sign on to the UK-led statement that was made a week or so ago, and we will work with countries like the UK and France to see how we can help in respect of the Strait of Hormuz. Obviously, we want to see the Strait of Hormuz open. I mean, that is to state the obvious. It's also important to note that we have in the region our E‑7 Wedgetail, which is playing a really important role in providing for, and the defence of, the countries of the Gulf — but specifically the UAE. So, we will continue to work with the UK and France. We will be participating in those meetings to discuss that. All of this, of course, is about whenever conditions allow for it. And right now, you know, the circumstances in the Middle East are not those.

STEFANOVIC: So, confirmation on that. So, what other military assets are you considering sending?

MARLES: Well, I'm not about to speculate on all of that, other than to say what I have, which is that we have our E‑7, which is in the region and playing a really important role in respect of the defence of the UAE and other countries in the Gulf.

STEFANOVIC: OK, so with this meeting ahead, I'll have to close on this point because I'm out of time. With this meeting now confirmed, that we are a part of this 35‑nation coalition, is that to say that Donald Trump is going to be pulling out of the region and we will be left — 35 other nations — left to pick up the pieces and secure the Strait of Hormuz?

MARLES: Again, I'm not about to speculate on that.

STEFANOVIC: Feels like that's where it's heading.

MARLES: I mean, well, you know, there's a meeting tonight — or a meeting in the next 24 hours — to discuss what can be done. We have signed on to those statements that we did from the outset. Clearly, we have an interest in the Strait of Hormuz being open. It is a function of when conditions allow any of these steps to take place. And those conditions don't exist right now. But we'll continue to have discussions about what useful role Australia can play.

STEFANOVIC: OK, that's the Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, joining us live this morning. Minister, thank you so much.

ENDS