Television Interview, ABC News Breakfast

SUBJECTS: Visit to Japan; Fuel Supply; Middle East Conflict; NATO. 

EMMA REBELLATO, HOST: Let's get more on the situation in the Middle East and Australia's fuel supplies. The Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles joins us now from Geelong. Thank you very much for joining us this morning.

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Emma. How are you?

REBELLATO: I'm very well, thank you. Let's start with fuel supplies, because you've just come back from Japan. Can we expect an increase in refined fuel from Japan?

MARLES: Well, we're very confident about our relationship with Japan and the fuel supplies that we're getting from Japan. In terms of the energy partnership between us and Japan, in fact we're a much bigger supplier of energy to them than they are to us. But about 4 per cent of our refined fuels do come from Japan and we're confident that the arrangements that we have in place with Japan will continue.

REBELLATO: So, we're not looking at any increase or perhaps offering up more gas in exchange? 

MARLES: Well, right now we are a major supplier, the major supplier of both gas and coal to Japan. Look, we are working with countries across the region. Obviously the Prime Minister is in Singapore today. They're a much bigger supplier of fuels to Australia. About more than a quarter of our refined fuels come from Singapore. And in all the efforts that he's undertaking, the Foreign Minister is undertaking that we're all undertaking, we're confident about our fuel supplies for the coming weeks and through into May. But, you know, clearly we are seeing a disrupted global fuel supply chain and that's why we need this ceasefire, as fragile as it is right now, to hold.

REBELLATO: As you mentioned, the Prime Minister is in Singapore. So what does a successful visit look like? Is it a new deal?

MARLES: A successful visit means that we've got each other's back. And we do have each other's back. I mean, that's really clear from what is coming out of Singapore and you know, what really underpins the relationship that we have with Singapore. Again, we are a major energy supplier to them in terms of gas. I think more than a third of their gas use comes from Australia. But in a really difficult time, which is challenging obviously for every country, but particularly in East Asia, including Australia, where our fuel supplies do come through the Straits of Hormuz, it's really important that our relationships hold that we have each other's backs and that is the situation that we have with Singapore and with Japan.

REBELLATO: Let's talk about what's happening in the Strait of Hormuz at the moment, because despite the ceasefire, it looks like not many ships are moving there at all. Australia has been involved in talks with the UK, with many other countries diplomatically, militarily. What are the latest on those discussions?

MARLES: Well, I think the honest answer to that question is that this, right now, is a function of the dialogue that is occurring, or will occur, between the United States and Iran. And clearly Pakistan has been at the centre of that. But not just Pakistan – Turkiye, Egypt and Saudi have also played a really important role, and we're grateful to all of those countries for what they've done. I mean, we need to see the Straits of Hormuz open and we need to see this conflict come to an end. And the ceasefire is fragile right now, but there is hope in this and it's really important that we see this temporary ceasefire become permanent and that we see the Straits of Hormuz open, and a return to normality in terms of global fuel supply chains.

REBELLATO: Australia has the E-7 Wedgetail surveillance plane in the region. How long is it likely to stay there?

MARLES: Look, it's going to stay there for the time being. I'm reluctant to put a number on that, but it's playing a very important and useful role in supporting the defence of the United Arab Emirates, but also the other countries of the Gulf region. That's why it's there and we’ll continue to have it there so long as it's able to do good work. And that is very much the case right now.

REBELLATO: And are you open to the possibility of Australia sending over more defence assets to the region?

MARLES: Well, if you're talking about the Straits of Hormuz and what happens there going forward if this ceasefire can become permanent, the answer to that question is that we're talking with the countries who are leading these efforts – the United Kingdom, France – about how Australia can best contribute. It really is difficult to speculate about the specifics of that without having those conversations in full. And in turn, it's difficult to have those conversations in full until we really understand what is the condition on the ground. In other words, whether this ceasefire does continue to persist as a permanent ceasefire. But I would reiterate, we do have the E-7 Wedgetail in the region and it is playing a really important role.

REBELLATO: Donald Trump has hit out at NATO again, as he has done quite often now, he had what NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described as very frank discussions. Are you worried about the NATO alliance and the future of it?

MARLES: Well, I mean the NATO alliance, firstly, is very important to Australia. It is very much in Australia's national interest that we see a strong NATO and that we see a strong NATO with the United States as a part of it. Secretary General Mark Rutte is in the United States as you referred, and meeting with the President, and I think it's good that those frank conversations are happening. I mean, I've attended the last two NATO meetings and the sense of mission and importance about NATO is as present today as I think it has ever been. So, I mean fundamentally I'm not concerned about the future of NATO, but NATO really does matter to Australia and the reason for that is because we are seeing a much more interconnected Indo‑Pacific and North Atlantic. What's happening across the North Atlantic is deeply relevant to Australia and indeed this conflict is a very– well, it is an example that bears that out.

REBELLATO: Richard Marles, the former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has warned that Australia risks being seen as a weak country for not participating in the fight against the Iranian dictatorship. What do you say to that?

MARLES: Well, look, I mean obviously Tony Abbott is a former Prime Minister, but on this one we obviously disagree. I mean we've taken a position which is very much focused on Australia's national interest. We work with likeminded countries around the world. We were very clear in supporting the strategic aim of ensuring that Iran did not acquire a deployable nuclear weapon, that would be a catastrophe for the world and we were very clear about that. We're also very clear in quickly responding to support the countries of the Gulf and significantly so through the deployment of the E-7 Wedgetail. So, Australia has been present consistent with our national interest. But having said all of that, you know, we've not been a part of this conflict against Iran and in that we are in the company of virtually every other country in NATO. So, you know, we will act in our national interest and we respectfully disagree with the position of Mr Abbott.

REBELLATO: Richard Marles, thank you very much for your time this morning. Appreciate it.

MARLES: Thanks, Emma.

ENDS