Television Interview, Today Show

SUBJECTS: AUKUS; China missile tests; Strait of Hormuz.

SAMANTHA ARMYTAGE, HOST: The AUKUS alliance is in focus this morning following high-level talks held in Washington. Joining us live from Washington D.C. is Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy. Minister, good morning. You've met with the Secretaries of the US Navy and Army this morning. What was discussed?

MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY, PAT CONROY: Well, AUKUS was a critical discussion with them and the Secretary of the Army as well. And the message is AUKUS is full steam ahead. It really is critical to our national security to get the most advanced submarines in the world and to build a shipyard so that we can build them ourselves, growing 20,000 jobs. And it was also great to announce a really significant contract for an Aussie steel maker, Bisalloy, who will now be producing submarine-grade steel for Electric Boat, which is one of the two submarine makers in the United States. So, just think about that for a second. Aussie workers producing Aussie steel to go into US submarines. So, this is another milestone for AUKUS.

ARMYTAGE: Okay. Can you say with certainty that the US is going to provide Australia with at least three Virginia-class subs in the early 2030s?

MINISTER CONROY: I'm very confident because what we're seeing is a massive investment in their submarine industrial base. I visited one of their new submarine factories in South Carolina yesterday. This one factory that just opened last year is doing one and a half million man-hours helping build submarines. So, I'm very confident the transfer of those three Virginia-class submarines will occur because it's in our national interest, and the US national interest, and it's a pathway to us building our own submarines.

ARMYTAGE: Has the US committed to it?

MINISTER CONROY: I'm very confident about it. Well, they've hit every milestone. They've passed legislation through their Congress, putting in place that process. That legislation passed with an 80 per cent “yes” vote. Anything that gets an 80 per cent “yes” vote in the US Congress, as divided as it is, is a really powerful symbol. So, that legislation authorises the transfers. Obviously, the president of the day will make the final decision, but I'm very confident that will occur because it's not just in our national interest, it's in the national interest of the United States.

ARMYTAGE: Yeah. Ok, let's talk about the Pacific and our security down here. Did you raise China's recent missile test with your American counterparts, and what did they have to say about it?

MINISTER CONROY: I did raise it, and I briefed them not just about Australia's reaction, but the reaction of the Pacific and the broad response, which was of concern and calling it out. The United States obviously shares similar concerns about the arms race we're seeing, the build-up of the Chinese military without any of the strategic trust or transparency we would expect. We're facing very uncertain strategic circumstances. So, I briefed them about our record investment in defence, growing our own sovereign manufacturing, including making our own missiles. And they were very interested in our approach to the Pacific, our new alliances with Fiji and Papua New Guinea as well.

ARMYTAGE: Great, OK. Minister, finally, the Strait of Hormuz is still in limbo. Has the US asked for Australia's support in any way in securing that waterway?

MINISTER CONROY: That wasn't raised with me in my meetings today. Obviously, we've participated in meetings led by UK and France about a multinational force to assist in the Strait of Hormuz after the conflict ceases. So, that's our position. We call for a de-escalation in the conflict, a permanent peace, for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened, and we've signalled that we would play a part once the conflict has ended in that coalition led by France and the United Kingdom.

ARMYTAGE: Okay. Minister Pat Conroy, we thank you for your time.

ENDS