Television Interview, ABC News Breakfast

SUBJECTS: Keir Starmer; AUKUS; Capital Gains Tax; Australian War Memorial; Five Eyes Statement on Artificial Intelligence. 

EMMA REBELLATO, HOST: Well, let's get some more reaction now on the resignation of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and on other things too. We're joined by the Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles in Canberra. Good morning to you.

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Morning, Emma.

REBELLATO: Well, the UK is about to have a new Prime Minister. Is that frustrating for the Government to have to deal with yet another leader in the UK?

MARLES: No, this is obviously a matter for the UK and we will work with whoever is the Prime Minister of the UK, as we have in the past. I think on this day, as we look at what happened yesterday evening, there's, at a human level, just a sense that we're all feeling for Keir Starmer. These are really difficult jobs to do and that was very evident in the way in which Keir Starmer spoke last night. And he has been a great friend to Australia. We're grateful for the partnership that he has demonstrated across the relationship, particularly on progressing issues like AUKUS and the way in which we've worked together in the support of Ukraine. Obviously, we wish Keir Starmer all the best for the future and we look forward to working with whoever is the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

REBELLATO: Well, it seems pretty much inevitable that Andy Burnham will be the next Prime Minister. There seems to be a lot we don't know about him, though, including where he stands, for instance, on defence spending. Do you have any idea of what this could mean for AUKUS, for instance?

MARLES: Well, look, whoever ultimately is the Prime Minister of the UK, we're very confident about the relationship across its breadth, but specifically in relation to AUKUS. I was in the UK the week before last with our Foreign Minister. AUKUS continues to happen at a pace, so we're really comfortable with the way in which that is proceeding. We had a UK submarine, HMS Anson, here earlier in the year at HMAS Stirling, south of Perth, and it had a fantastic visit where we did a very significant maintenance package on it. And that further grew our capabilities in relation to working with nuclear‑powered submarines. And so this project continues and we're very confident that it will no matter who is leading the UK going forward.

REBELLATO: Closer to home, what does your government need to change in order to get the Greens over the line to pass your tax bill?

MARLES: Well, I mean, we will work across the Senate to see the Budget passed and we will be speaking to everyone in the Senate, including the Greens, about the importance of seeing tax cuts to working Australians and the importance in terms of reforming tax around housing such that we can have more Australians in the housing market, more first home buyers. That's what we are seeking to do, now–

REBELLATO: But it seems like you're going to have to make some changes to get their support, doesn't it?

MARLES: Well, we're confident that we'll find a pathway through in terms of the passing of the Budget and we're confident about that because ultimately the objectives of the Budget which I've just outlined are very much in the interests of the Australian people and we're confident that Senators will see that.

REBELLATO: How close are you? Do you think you can get it through before the winter break?

MARLES: Yeah, I mean– well, obviously we continue to work each and every day to see that happen. That's very much our objective. You know, I don't want to predict the workings of the Senate. I've learned not to do that. But we'll continue to work with Senators and talking about how important it is to pass this Budget and, and we do this with a sense of confidence and optimism.

REBELLATO: Will you be conceding a delay in the NDIS to get it through?

MARLES: Well again, I'm not going to speculate on all of that. What we're going to do is focus on what this Budget is about and work with senators to see it passed. This is a really important Budget in terms of providing for a much more accessible housing market and for providing tax cuts to working Australians, and our focus is very much on that.

REBELLATO: The expansion of the Australian War Memorial officially opens later today. Are you comfortable that Ben Roberts Smith will be attending?

MARLES: I am. I mean, it's appropriate that Ben Roberts-Smith be given an invite to this as a Victoria Cross recipient.

REBELLATO: Even though he’s facing these serious charges? 

MARLES: Well, I mean that is a matter for the legal process. There is a presumption of innocence in this country and Ben Roberts‑Smith is a recipient of the Victoria Cross and the Victoria Cross recipients have been invited to this, which is appropriate and so I am comfortable about that. I mean, what will be opened the Australian War Memorial this evening is an utterly fantastic extension to what is, I think, the most sacred building in our country and we are very much looking forward to that. The Prime Minister will be there. It's a very significant moment for the nation and that the Victorian Cross recipients have been invited to this is absolutely appropriate.

REBELLATO: Five Eyes cybersecurity agencies have issued a pretty blunt warning to governments and leaders saying they must act quickly because of the risk of artificial intelligence. How far behind is Australia on acting on this?

MARLES: Well, I think actually, we are at the forefront of developments in respect of artificial intelligence. I mean, AI is moving incredibly quickly but we have, amongst the best agencies in the world. The Australian Signals Directorate is, really, in terms of what it does, one of the very best agencies in the world. And so we're very well placed to deal with the changes that we will experience in the context of AI, both in terms of all the opportunities that AI represents, but in terms of cyber threats, we are very much across this as well and very much prepared for it.

REBELLATO: They're saying that leaders in government and businesses should address weaknesses. They should consider moving systems that don't need to be connected to the internet offline. Has the government already been doing that?

MARLES: Well, what we've been doing is preparing for, as we always do, advances in cyber technology, and AI is central to that, and making sure that our systems are well prepared for what's coming and that they're hardened. And that is both across government, but also reaching out to the private sector and those elements of the private sector which are managing critical parts of our infrastructure and critical parts of our economy. And again, I come back to the fact that ASD and government agencies are amongst the leading agencies in the world in relation to this. And when I speak to the private sector about their engagement with ASD, there is nothing but gratitude and praise for the professionalism of their work and that is very much going to be the case in terms of dealing with all that AI represents coming down the track, both in terms of opportunities, but where there are threats in terms of cyber challenges, making sure that we are prepared for them as well.

REBELLATO: Richard Marles, thanks for your time.

MARLES: Thanks, Emma. 

ENDS