Doorstop, Parliament House

SUBJECTS: Appointment of new Defence Secretary; AUKUS; US Ambassador to Australia; Anzac Day; Welcome to Country

JOURNALIST: You've announced the first female Defence secretary. Do you think up until now, Defence has been a bit of a boys club?

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, RICHARD MARLES: Well, look, I think Meghan Quinn is going to be a fantastic Secretary of Defence. I think the point I’d really want to make in terms of Meghan's appointment is that we went through an extensive process. She has been appointed based on the experience that she's going to bring to bear here. I mean, as the current Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, she's running a very large organisation. That's what we need in Defence, because Defence is, of course, the largest department in the government, and she is a standout candidate to do this. As the first woman to be the Secretary of Defence, it is a significant moment- we shouldn't pass over that lightly. It's not why she was chosen. She was chosen based on her capacity, but it's obviously a really significant and important moment of her being chosen.

JOURNALIST: Minister, can we ask about the UK's AUKUS inquiry report that's just been released. They're worried they won't meet deadlines and that the agreement could falter. What do you make of that? And is AUKUS in jeopardy if the UK can't meet their requirements? 

MARLES: Well firstly, the report made clear its support for AUKUS. And again, I think this just underscores the degree to which AUKUS as a program, is supported in the United Kingdom, the United States and here in Australia, and that's the important point to take from this. That we see the program being scrutinized again in all three countries is important as well- this is a program that's being delivered over the course of decades. I'm sure that the recommendations that this Committee will put forward to the UK Government will help the UK Government as it moves forward. From our end, we're really comfortable with the way in which the UK is obviously contributing to AUKUS and our relationship with the UK, and we are on track to deliver AUKUS in terms of all of its milestones, and that includes the construction of the submarine yard at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, where we will be building SSN-AUKUS with BAE Systems. So we are, we're very confident about that, and we're very confident about the role that the UK is playing. 

JOURNALIST: Minister, the US has appointed Dave Brat as its next Ambassador, or its pick for next Ambassador to Australia. Is he the right pick- and or the right fit for Australia? And was it concerning that it took sort of 15 months for us to get from Caroline Kennedy to here?

MARLES: Well firstly, we welcome the appointment of a permanent Ambassador, and we look forward to Dave Brat's nomination being confirmed and him taking up the role as soon as possible. This is good news. We understand the American system that it takes some time with the appointment- with the election, I should say, of a new President. And that's what occurred when President Trump was elected the first time around, that there was a bit of a hiatus. But Erika Olson, who is the current Chargé d'Affaires, has been doing a great job representing the United States in Australia, and we very much look forward to Dave Brat taking up his role. 

JOURNALIST: Mr. Brat isn't a household name in Australia. What is your understanding of his position on AUKUS, on the Alliance more broadly, and Australia's Defence role in that? 

MARLES: Well, I mean, I'm sure that Dave Brat will represent the interests of the United States here in Australia, but what I'd say is that we're really confident about the position of the United States when it comes to AUKUS that comes from the mouth of the President himself. So that's what matters. And we're working very closely with the Pentagon, with the Department of War in relation to the delivery of this and I'm sure Dave Brat will help contribute.

JOURNALIST: Minister, you were just clear now that the Welcome to Country do not need to change, especially at Defence and Anzac related events. What needs to change now? Because something surely has to give. It's just festering and just getting worse. The respect is not happening at these particular events.

MARLES: Well, I think this is a really clear issue: those people who booed on Anzac Day should be condemned. It's as simple as that. It is fundamentally disrespectful what they did. Welcome to Country is a mark of respect, and I think it's completely appropriate on a day which is based on respect. I mean, in attending Anzac Day services over a very long period of time, I don't have people coming up to me talking about the issue of Welcome to Country. What I do have is people utterly outraged at the way in which people have sought to disrupt Anzac Day over the last two Anzac days by booing in this way. That's what should be condemned, and that's where this should lie.

JOURNALIST: But is condemnation enough, because people are feeding off the attention they are getting? It's been two years now of booing at Anzac Day events.

MARLES: Well, all I can say is that this is the deeply important day for our nation. People should be respectful at it. Marks of respect, which is what the Welcome to Country is, I think is completely appropriate, but we should be encouraging people to be respectful in the way in which they go about their attendance of Anzac Day. And look, I was at the ceremony in Melbourne last year when we had the booing, people were outraged by it. You know, I went to a number of services this Anzac Day in my electorate in Geelong, it was completely respectful, and people were grateful for that.

JOURNALIST: The RSL has said, two days after this booing, this spate of booing that they're going to review their Welcome to Country guidelines. Do you think that might send the wrong message to these people that are showing up and are disturbing these proceedings, saying, well, they are looking at it, they might get rid of it?

MARLES: Well, look, I'm mindful that a lot of these events are organized by the RSL. We're very grateful to that. Certainly, as I say in my electorate, the local RSL sub-branch was the organisers of all of the events that I attended, and that's something that benefits all of us who are able to attend these events and show our respect. And so, I mean, the RSL is entitled to undertake things as a sees best. But from my perspective, I think that Welcome to Country is a respectful thing to do in large public gatherings, and that's what happens on Anzac Day.

JOURNALIST: But you're not concerned that it might appear to be some sort of capitulation to say you've had these massive boo’s they've got a lot of attention, and now we're going to look at whether we’re doing it or not?

MARLES: Well I'm making my position clear. I think Welcome to Country at large public gatherings, is a very respectful thing to do. And one of the aspects of Anzac Day, not all of it, but one of the aspects of Anzac Day is characterized by acting with respect. 

JOURNALIST: Is it racist, the booing?

MARLES: Well, I mean, I think people can draw their own conclusions about the booing. What the booing is, is I think, deeply disrespectful to everyone who attends, is seeking to disrupt what is a fundamentally respectful event, and people who I spoke to were utterly appalled at that behaviour.

ENDS