Subjects: The provocative and dangerous interaction of the People’s Liberation Army – Air Force with a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) MH-60R helicopter in the Yellow Sea; the Treasurer’s budget blunders and lack of an economic plan; Labor’s cost of living crisis; Beef2024.
E&OE
KARL STEFANOVIC:
A Chinese fighter jet has dropped flares in front of an Australian Navy chopper in a dangerous mid-air confrontation. The Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, joins us now live in Rockhampton.
Peter, good morning to you. This couldn’t be more serious. The Defence Minister has called it ‘unsafe’ and ‘unprofessional’ – that’s an understatement.
PETER DUTTON:
It certainly is – and it’s not the first time, as we know, Karl. We’ve had attacks before on our naval divers. I think the Prime Minister needs to pick the phone up, frankly, and speak to the Chinese President, to President Xi, and express our deep concern. Because, at some stage, there’s going to be a miscalculation and an Australian Defence Force member is going to lose their life. That is a tragic circumstance that has to be avoided at all costs. But, there will be a miscalculation by somebody who’s flying that jet or somebody who’s on the deck of a Chinese naval ship. Something will happen and that’s what, not just Australia is worried about, the Philippines, Japan, obviously the United States, many other countries in the region, who are very worried about these acts that continue to be provocative, and completely and utterly unnecessary.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
The response is the thing here. I’m not sure whether the PM has picked up the phone yet. He’s on the show a little bit later, but who’s going to pull China into line? No one.
PETER DUTTON:
Well, the countries that I just spoke of in the Quad, our Five Eyes partners, we’re all coming together. I think that’s incredibly important to send a unified message to China and to Russia, to North Korea, and others that the rule of law matters. The international rule of law matters, in particular, in relation to these particular cases. If there’s an abandonment of that, then, it’s a free-for-all.
We want peace to prevail in our region, but we don’t do it from a position of weakness. I think the Prime Minister has to pick the phone up and express our deep concern, because, at the moment, we’ll see a response from China to deny that it happened or that we had made a mistake. We’ve seen his movie before, but it is at some stage going to escalate, perhaps by accident, but it’ll be that unintended consequence, and Australian Defence Force personnel will pay with their lives and we don’t want to see that. So, coming together with other like-minded countries is more important than ever.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
It needs to happen quickly. Do you think, realistically, it will happen?
PETER DUTTON:
I think it should, because last time the Prime Minister wouldn’t raise it with the Chinese President, which I think was a mistake. If the Chinese President doesn’t know the red lines, or doesn’t think that we’re going to respond in a very firm way, then it will continue to happen. The budding up against the ships in the South China Sea, or in Japan’s case, in the East China Sea. India is obviously concerned, many other nations as well, and it’s why the PM’s right when he says that we live in the most precarious period since the Second World War. This is a very difficult time.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Look, the Treasurer seems to be at war with the RBA this morning over their pessimistic forecast. He says it’s not a time for ‘scorched earth austerity’. He’s right, isn’t he?
PETER DUTTON:
Well, Karl, the trouble is that Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese have had two budgets to get this right, and the decisions they’ve made in the last two budgets have just made it harder for Australians. So, let’s hope in their third budget that they get it right and that they start to relieve some of the pressure on inflation.
The Reserve Bank will only respond to Government settings, and as the Reserve Bank Governor has pointed out, Australia has a ‘homegrown’ inflation problem. We’re not seeing the extent of inflation in other comparable countries that we’re seeing in Australia, and that’s because of the policies that have been implemented by the Albanese Government.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Jeez, you’re dealing with a lot of bull there this morning in Rocky. It’s all happening behind you, big fella! You’re at Queensland’s beef capital – Beef2024, Dutton’s Ranch behind you, Yellowstone-style. Will you be getting on board a bull a little bit later? Or something like that?
PETER DUTTON:
Well Karl, where they’ve positioned here is right opposite the wash bay, so Wayne can’t pan around, but they are washing many of the bulls at the moment. So, when you spoke before about that steak beefy smell, we’re not at that end of the equation. We’re right here in the thick of it. Look, just some amazing people.
Am I going to get on the bull? I don’t think falling off the bull would be the problem, I think watching me hop onto the bull could be! I don’t know. You might get a couple of YouTube hits, I suspect… but mate, look, just the most amazing people here.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Look, we’re prepared to accept good watching.
PETER DUTTON:
I’m sure. I’m not sure your liability insurance extends that far, but we’ll see!
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Alright, good to talk to you Pete. Appreciate your time. Thank you.
[ends]