Radio Interview, ABC RN Breakfast

SUBJECTS: 2026 National Defence Strategy and 2026 Integrated Investment Program; Middle East Conflict; Geelong Viva Refinery Fire

SALLY SARA, HOST: Richard Marles, welcome back to Breakfast.

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Sally, how are you?

SARA: Very well, thank you. Donald Trump, the US President, has again singled out Australia over its refusal to directly participate in the Middle East conflict. Let's take a quick listen.

[Excerpt]

JOURNALIST: On Australia, Mr President, you asked for 3.5 per cent increase, like 5 per cent when you did with NATO. Australia has only gone for 3 per cent. Are you satisfied with that decision? Would you consider    

DONALD TRUMP: Well I'm not happy with Australia because they were not    

JOURNALIST: Why specifically?

TRUMP: Because they were not there when we asked them to be there. So Australia    

JOURNALIST: What did you ask for?

TRUMP: Australia was another one. They were not there happy to do with Hormuz.

[End of excerpt]

SARA: The Australian Government has repeatedly said that no formal request has been made by the US, but Donald Trump says the US has asked for help. Who's right there?

MARLES: Well, look, we've not received a specific request in relation to the Strait of Hormuz. But we'll work with all of our partners, our allies, and that very much includes the United States in terms of whatever needs to be done in relation to the Strait of Hormuz. We really understand how important it is in terms of our national interest. I mean the whole country can see that. And so we've been working with the US, we've been working with countries like the UK, with France. I mean the planning that is being done in respect of any particular operation there is obviously one which is dependent on when circumstances allow such an operation to happen, and that's not the circumstances we've got right now. And so, you know, we need to wait for that. But we will be seeking to contribute in whatever is the best way that we can, and we've made that clear.

SARA: If there has been no direct request from the United States, is the Federal Government becoming frustrated with these repeated criticisms from the US President?

MARLES: Oh look, you know, I'm not about to go into a running commentary on what the US President says. I mean we are dealing with the situations as we find them in the world. Clearly, you know, this is not a conflict which Australia has been directly a part of. That said, we very much support the strategic objective of denying Iran a deployable nuclear weapon and that capability. We've assessed requests that have come in our direction in accordance with Australia's national interest, as we should. That has meant that we've sent a very significant contingent through the E7 Wedgetail to help in the defence of the gulf country, specifically the UAE. So we are very much playing our part there. But that's very much again in Australia's national interest given the equities we have in the UAE. And the Strait of Hormuz matters and we're alive to that as well.

SARA: What has Australia done to clarify its position with the Trump Administration given the President continues to assert that he has asked Australia for assistance?

MARLES: I mean we speak with the Trump Administration at different levels every day and, you know, we'll just continue to do this an orderly and methodical way and work as closely as we can with our ally. You know, as I said yesterday in announce the National Defence Strategy, our alliance with the United States is as important today as it's ever been, and we continue to work deeply with the US, and that includes communicating to them where we're at.

SARA: Before we talk about the new defence strategy I understand you're in Geelong and about to get an update with the Prime Minister about the Viva Energy oil refinery fire. What's the latest?

MARLES: Well, I spoke with Scott Wyatt yesterday, the CEO of Viva, and the company is relatively optimistic that this will have a relatively minimal impact on supply. I mean it is a significant incident which has occurred here. We are very thankful that no one was hurt or injured, and I think that it occurred at 11:15 at night is probably a blessing that there weren't more people around. But the part of the refinery which has been most impacted is that which refines petrol, which is the least, you know, stressed fuel, if I can put it that way. In other words, the fuels that are in more demand are diesel and jet fuel and that part of the refinery was less impacted. So the company feels relatively confident that the impact on this in terms of fuel supply will be relatively minimal.

SARA: The US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told you last year that the United States wants Australia to increase its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP. How will Australia's new defence strategy be received by the Trump Administration do you think, given we're not hitting that level?

MARLES: Well look, I mean we've been speaking with the Trump Administration, as we have with all of our partners, but very much with the United States, constantly about what we are doing in relation to defence spending. What we've made clear is that, you know, the method that we adopt here is not about picking a number, it's really about trying to assess our circumstances, working out what kind of defence force we need to meet those and then resourcing it. But that method has seen the biggest peacetime increase in Australia's defence spending in our nation's history, and that is something that the United States very much recognises.

And it also means that on this day, like for like, you know, we're spending more than the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, any of our comparable like minded countries in the Indo-Pacific. We're actually doing more than most, and that is a fact which is very much understood by the Trump Administration, and I think they will see that what we have announced yesterday is a continuation of what we've been doing since we've been in government, which is to increase defence spending.

SARA: Earlier this morning I spoke with your shadow counterpart James Paterson; he's expressed concerns about what the conflict in the Middle East means for the Indo Pacific. Let's take a listen.

[Excerpt]

JAMES PATERSON: It is a well known fact that since the war in Ukraine, the war in Gaza, and now the war over Iran, that western military stocks have been seriously depleted, particularly our stocks of missiles, and that it has been reported that the United States has drawn down on their Indo Pacific stockpiles which are designated for that region and are used to deter any power in that region, including the People's Republic of China, taking aggressive action.

[End of excerpt]

SARA: Do you share those concerns, Minister?

MARLES: Well, I think the   well, firstly, very much our focus is on the Indo Pacific. I mean that's at the heart of the National Defence Strategy, and it's really been at the heart of the way in which we've gone about our defence planning since we've come to office. I think in terms of assessing the United States, it's right to do that not over, you know, the space of March, April, May this year but over a longer term. And if you look at the National Security Strategy and National Defence Strategies that the US laid down at the end of last year, there is a real focus on the Indo Pacific which we appreciate. And it is important from an Australian point of view that we see America remain present in the Indo Pacific. Now I have a sense of confidence that over the next few years that's what we will see, and that's what's really important here. Obviously, you know, there is a conflict now which is drawing particular resources, but I think one needs to take a step back and have a slightly longer view.

SARA: Just finally, the government's previously said it will take part in talks co hosted by the UK and France about the Strait of Hormuz. Who will be representing Australia at that meeting, and will it be held later today Australian time, is that about right?

MARLES: I think that is right. Look, that's all being worked through in terms of who'd be represented but we'll be there, that's the important point to make, and as we have in fact in all the planning conferences at various levels with the United Kingdom, with France, and in fact, you know, as I said earlier, we've been speaking with the US as well. I mean we need to see the Strait of Hormuz opened, that is very much in Australia's national interests, and we are willing to cooperate and contribute in whatever way we can.

SARA: Thank you, Minister.

MARLES: No worries, thanks Sally.

ENDS