Subjects: The death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; AUKUS; footy finals.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
As hundreds of thousands of mourners queue to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II, our very own PM is enroute to London to attend Her Majesty’s State Funeral. For more, we’re joined by Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles in Geelong, Victoria and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is in Brissie for us this morning.
Good morning guys, nice to see you bright and early.
Let’s go to Richard first up. Anthony Albanese is leading an Australian convoy as we speak. Once he’s here, he will be attending all official events, including the King’s reception. There is a bit on.
RICHARD MARLES:
There is a bit on, but listening to your reporting in Britain and the affection and the reaction of the British people to the Queen’s death, there’s obviously been a very significant reaction across Australia as well and I think Australians want to know that they are being represented at the Queen’s funeral by our Prime Minister and our Governor-General. So, I know that while Anthony will have quite a full agenda while he is over in the UK, the focus of this is obviously about representing the country at what will be one of the most important global events any of us will ever see.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Peter, he’s taking a lot of every-day Australians on that plane, on effectively our Air Force One. Do you think there’ll be anything left of the plane when he gets there?
PETER DUTTON:
Well, I’d just echo Richard’s words Karl, I think the outpouring of emotion is obvious. The Queen’s reign, the dignity and the way in which she carried herself, the way in which she supported our country – having visited here 16 times – you’d expect that emotion and I think it’s great that the Prime Minister and the Governor-General and the other delegation members are going to represent our country, that’s a good thing. But yeah, maybe the mini bar on the plane might be a bit diminished by the time it returns…
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Yeah, exactly. Richard, the PM is meeting the new UK leader Liz Truss while he is over here. Are you going to ratify any of these free trade agreements that were done?
RICHARD MARLES:
Well, I don’t think any of that business will be undertaken during this visit, but it is an opportunity for the Prime Minister to meet Liz Truss – who I had the opportunity to meet at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting a couple of months ago. Liz Truss is a great friend of Australia. I know that they will have a really good opportunity to have a discussion about a lot which is on our bilateral agenda coming up, but the focus is going to be the Queen, as it should be.
This is not a moment where big decisions are going to be taken or big announcements made. I think this is a moment for all the leaders around the world, but for our Prime Minister, it really is a moment of acknowledging an extraordinary life, and a life that has meant so much to so many in our country.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Well, today marks one year since the AUKUS deal was unveiled. Pete, when do you think we will be getting these subs? I guess you went ahead and signed the deals and we didn’t know how long it was going to take to get them, and we are still no closer to knowing?
PETER DUTTON:
Well Karl, we have obviously undertaken a very significant deal in AUKUS. There was a lot of work put into it and we got the United States and the UK to agree to it. It will underpin security for our nation for decades to come and we’ll provide whatever support is required to the government to acquire that capability as quickly as possible.
The government’s on the time line that was laid out under the deal and that hopefully by the end of this year, or early next year will give us a better indication of which platform they’re going with, but clearly the training, the sharing of the intellectual property, the detail around the submarine, and the many other elements to AUKUS as well – in space, in cyber – there is a huge compact around that deal, and as I say, we will provide every support because it is in our country’s best interest that we acquire that capability, sooner than later.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
When will we know Richard?
RICHARD MARLES:
Well, we are on track to having a decision in the first part of next year. So, when Peter organised this arrangement a year ago – and I do very much acknowledge the role that Peter has played in AUKUS – the timeframe then was to have an 18 month process before we make a decision. It is on track, and the solution, if you like, how we will put this together, is starting to take shape. So, we do have a sense of what that optimal pathway will look like.
But we will be announcing all of that in the first part of next year, which is when we intended to do that, along with how quickly we can get this, and the cost, and making sure of course that this is consistent with our non-proliferation obligations, which is very important as well.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
All right. I’ve got an idea, and I know that both of you aren’t really too welcoming of some of my ideas, but I’ve got a good idea for you Richard.
PETER DUTTON:
I’m nervous.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Why don’t we get the French to build these submarines because they sure as hell can’t referee in the Bledisloe?
RICHARD MARLES:
Well, obviously I agree with the comment about the refereeing…
KARL STEFANOVIC:
…oh there we go!..
RICHARD MARLES:
…there is no doubt about that. But we are doing everything we can to get the relationship with France back on track – so I think the less we talk about that, the better.
PETER DUTTON:
The relations have been set back after last night Karl, don’t worry.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Exactly. Don’t worry about that.
Look, we’ve 20 seconds each. Pete you are up. The footy – it’s Brisbane vs Geelong. Can’t get better than tonight. What do you think Pete? Start sledging.
PETER DUTTON:
Well, Brisbane’s the underdog. I would love to be down there tonight but I’ve got my son’s formal on tonight, so I won’t get down there to see Richard’s tears. But it will be a tight game. Lions are playing well, they deserve the victory.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Richard?
RICHARD MARLES:
Well Karl, we are keeping a lid on it here. It’s a lovely day here in Geelong which we take as a good omen, but I think all I would say is that it has been a very difficult year already for Peter and I expect the pain to continue.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Oh yeah, I love it. Good on you guys. Thank you so much for being with us. We appreciate it.
[ends]