Subjects: Russian fighter jet attack on US drone; AUKUS; Paul Keating’s AUKUS rant; defence procurement; cost of living pressures; the Prime Minister’s broken promise on a $275 cut to your power bills; Victorian energy ombudsman reports of increases in disconnections amidst cost of living crisis; Collingwood v Geelong tonight.
E&OE.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Well, tensions between Russia and the US are rising this morning. The Pentagon releasing footage of a Russian jet allegedly releasing fuel over an American drone. It’s incredible vision. To discuss, we’re joined by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles from Avalon in Victoria and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in Melbourne. Morning, guys. Nice to see you this morning. Richard, good morning to you. I’m sure you would have seen that vision. How is that all going to play out with Russia and the US?
RICHARD MARLES:
Well, I think what this confirms is what we suspected when we were talking earlier in the week, that what Russia’s done here is act really unprofessionally, and you can see that with the vision. I mean, this is completely inappropriate in terms of the way in which two militaries should interact. This shows, again, that Russia just doesn’t play by the rules, and at the end of the day, that’s what’s at the heart of what’s going on in Ukraine. I think the way in which the US are responding to this is responsible and really important, but this is a clear demonstration of the fact that Russia does not play by the rules.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Richard, I’m hearing from my defence contacts this morning that we might be buying some Tomahawk missiles from the US. Is that happening?
RICHARD MARLES:
Well, we are working with the US on having more missile capability because it’s a really important part of what we need to be doing with our posture, which is to have a greater ability to project. That’s actually at the heart of what we’re doing with submarines, of course. But making sure that we have longer-range strike missiles is a really important capability for the country. It enables us to be able to reach out beyond our shores further, and that’s ultimately how we are able to keep Australia safe.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Okay. How many and when?
RICHARD MARLES:
Ah, not in a position to go into all of that, but we are looking at how we can have greater projection, and so longer-range strike missiles are a really critical component to it.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Okay. You would have felt a little bit like a US drone this week when Paul Keating dumped a motherlode on you?
RICHARD MARLES:
You can always rely on the line from you, Karl! I’ve had a lot of questions this week about that, that is certainly the most colourful! Look, I have spoken quite a bit about this. I mean, Karl, we are focussed on really talking to the Australian people about why we need to be doing what we’re doing. I mean, I’ve said this in all seriousness before, that one of the things that’s really impacted me about all of us in government, in coming to government, is the consequential moment of the time in which we have. You know, we face really tough strategic circumstances. The global rules based order is under threat around the world, and what we’ve just been talking about in Ukraine is an example of that, and we need to be making sure that we prepare Australia for the future. This is a critically important capability for our country, and that’s what we’re focussed on explaining.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Pete, real popcorn moment for you, I guess. And I know you’re going to exploit the great divisions inside Labor right now.
PETER DUTTON:
Well, I thought it was like a scene out of the Comedy Company, Karl, where you had old Uncle Arthur in the sherry cabinet again, and there he was out running around abusing all the family members. It was a really tough, a tough week. Look, I mean, we’ve all been on the end Paul Keating sprays, but it was a special effort this week. So look, I just think on the Today Show, we’re behind cousin Richard all the way, and you know, we’ll back him in against the crazy old uncle.
So, I thought it was sad, and yes, it shows a very deep division within the Labor Party, which is unfortunate, in a week when the government should be speaking with a united voice. You’ve now got Peter Garrett, the union movement, and others coming out against the AUKUS deal, and it’s in our country’s best interest. It’s why we negotiated AUKUS and we’ll do everything we can to support the government to help them get through their family feud.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Richard, this is a problem for you. There are some deep divisions and pretty vocal people inside your own party now having a proper crack.
RICHARD MARLES:
Oh, look, I think none of what we’ve heard is a particular surprise. But, you know, when I speak across our Party Room to people, in turn, they have the same sense that I do of how significant is the moment in which we’ve come to government. I think we all feel the mandate and the obligation to make sure that we are handing on to our kids and our grandkids a country which is much more self-reliant and has the capability to keep ourselves safe over the decades ahead, and actually, there’s broad support for that. I mean, I appreciate the gratuitous commentary from Peter, but we’ll make sure we deal with all that. But at the end of the day, we are focussed in speaking to the Australian people as we are with our own Party Room, and I’m really confident about where the government is standing, the correctness of what we’re doing, and the importance of giving our country this capability.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Pete, you have given it bipartisan support, but if you were hoping to intimidate Beijing in any kind of way, it hasn’t really worked. The Guardian reporting they’re wondering if we’ll be taking tourists on these subs to China, effectively calling them a nuclear powered P&O cruise.
PETER DUTTON:
Well, I don’t think that’s the case at all. It’s tough work, and they turn the crew over very quickly because particularly for a generation that wants to spend a lot of time on their phone, that’s not available to them in this job. They’re on the subs underwater for a long period of time, in some cases months at a time. So, it’s tough work, and you know, the best of our submariners do us proud.
This is a capability that we should be proud of as well. The AUKUS deal that we struck with the US and the UK was all about achieving this as quickly as possible so that we can keep peace and maintain peace in our region. That’s why we absolutely support the government’s decision and the decisions and the hard work that Richard’s undertaken.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Okay, moving on now. There are fresh warnings of gas shortages this winter as the energy crisis deepens, which means obviously higher prices across the board. Richard, when exactly is power going to be 300 bucks cheaper under your government?
RICHARD MARLES:
Well, we understand the challenges with energy prices, which is why at the end of last year we had an intervention in the market, an intervention which involved us bringing back the Parliament, giving Peter an opportunity to vote in favour of Australia’s household budgets, something that the Liberal Party ultimately voted against. But that step made a difference. Future electricity prices were half in February what they were in November. What we know is, but for the steps that we took in December, we would be facing even higher electricity prices. So, Australians can be completely confident where we’re at as a government. We are doing everything we can to deal with the pressures that are being placed upon Australia’s budgets by virtue of the energy markets. Peter is busily playing politics and voting against that.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Pete, 10 seconds.
PETER DUTTON:
Well, it’s a nonsense. You’re seeing in Victoria here, prices are going up by a third from the 1st of July, and the regulator here is saying that disconnections are up 31 per cent this year and Labor promised the $275 cut 97 times before the election. Never done it, and never mentioned that figure since. Richard won’t. And every decision they’re making is actually driving up electricity prices and gas prices and people are feeling that. It’s a very tough time for families.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
All right. Thank you, guys. Just one final thing. Obviously, Geelong playing tonight. Sarah reckons she’s going to add to your woes this week with a big Pies win. You know, it’s going to be a tough one for you, isn’t it, big fella?
RICHARD MARLES:
Well Karl, we take very seriously the national obligation of making sure that Collingwood doesn’t win and that’s what Geelong will be doing for the nation tonight.
SARAH ABO:
Richard Marles!
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Good on you guys.
SARAH ABO:
No, no, no, no. That is unacceptable behaviour from you. Just you wait. We’re coming for ya.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Wow fiery. I love it. Have a great weekend, guys.
[ends]