Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Malaysia - doorstop interview

JOURNALISTForeign Minister, there have been morereports of debris of washing up on Reunion.Have you had any discussionswith Malaysia about this or been given any information about this from yourMalaysian counterparts?

JULIEBISHOPI had a meeting this morning withDato' Sri Anifah, the Foreign Minister of Malaysia.We discussed thedetails of the debris that has washed up on Reunion.He was of the viewthat the debris had been sent to France or was being sent to France for furtherconsideration and analysis.We discussed the finding of the wing of theaircraft and the fact that Malaysia is firmly of the view that it is part of MH370.But I don't have any specific further details on the status of that otherdebris.I think it is important for us to allow the investigation team toconduct their analysis and ensure that, if it is part of the plane, that theannouncement is made as soon as possible, but also ensure that whatever teststhat need to be carried out are carried out.

Australia nowhas a representative from our Transport Safety Bureau in France as part of theinvestigation so we will be able to get direct communication in relation toit.And of course we are still taking a lead role in the search effort tolocate MH370.

JOURNALISTThe communique from the East AsiaSummit spoke of tensions created by reclamation of land in the South China Sea,but it didn't really propose a solution to that.Is that communiquewording strong enough and how do you think these tensions should be resolved inthe future?

JULIEBISHOPThis communique was the result of theForeign Ministers Meeting.It will be provided to Leaders for theirmeeting in November, and so I am confident that the issue of the South ChinaSea reclamation work, construction work, and the risk of militarisation of theartificial structures and islands in the South China Sea will be a topic ofdiscussion for the Leaders in November.There was a difference of opinionwithin the East Asia Summit and within the ASEAN Regional Forum on thereclamation work in the South China Sea.There are a number ofterritorial claims and, as I said from the outset, Australia does not takesides.We do not take positions on the various territorial claims, but wehave long called for a moratorium on land reclamation by China and othercountries and that should also include a moratorium on construction activityand any militarisation.We believe that this risks miscalculation, itrisks raising tensions and what we need in our region is peace and stabilityand security so that ships and aircraft can travel through the regionunimpeded.Freedom of navigation and freedom of over-flight must befundamental to the peace and security of the region.

JOURNALISTAnd what about the Malaysian ForeignMinister's description of you earlier today where he said that you were hittingit from all corners?He said that you had a reputation as the "iron lady"of the conference.What do you say to that?

JULIEBISHOPDo you think it was a reference to theperformance of our cricket team?I'm not too sure but anyway, he is avery good friend and he's been an outstanding Chair of the East Asia Summit andASEAN Regional Forum meetings over the past couple of days.I havewelcomed him to Perth in the past.We have spent a lot of time togetherin recent months talking about how we can solve the problem of getting aprosecution authority in place to try those responsible for the bringing downof Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.We've spoken on a number of occasionson our joint search for MH370, so as two Foreign Ministers we have spent agreat deal of time together.I'll have to think of a description of himin the next few days that I hope he appreciates.

JOURNALISTMinister, can I take you back to yourmeeting with Indonesia earlier this week.Were you able to get anyclarification on the live cattle issue and whether or not the quota will berevised?

JULIEBISHOPYes, that was a discussion we had, itwas part of our overall discussion on the bilateral relationship and I'mencouraged that our Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce will be visiting Indonesiaat some point and this is a matter that they can continue to discuss.Butgenerally we have said that we recognise Indonesia's desire to be moreself-sufficient in their need for food security.Of course, when theprevious Labor government banned live exports to Indonesia it just heightenedtheir desire to be more self-sufficient in food security, but I believe thatAustralia's beef is of such high quality and there will be supply requirementsin Indonesia that we will be able to increase our supply of beef and livecattle to Indonesia over time.So it was a topic of discussion but myfriend Barnaby Joyce, as Agriculture Minister, will be raising this inone-on-one discussions later this year.

JOURNALISTIndonesia has been looking to other countriesapart from Australia to get its beef supply, its cattle supply.Was thatraised?Did you get any reassurances on that issue and why?Or didthey give you an explanation as to why Indonesia is looking elsewhere otherthan Australia?

JULIEBISHOPI won't go into any specifics of ourdiscussions.The topic was raised, we discussed it in detail.But Ishould point out that Australia also seeks to supply our beef across a numberof countries.We diversify our trade as much as we can and I would expectother countries would do similarly. We have opportunities to get our cattle–ourbeef–into China and into other markets.We see the region as ourmarketplace, we see the globe as our marketplace.So we are always lookingfor opportunities to enhance existing markets or indeed find new markets.

JOURNALISTJust on a domestic issue, is itappropriate for the Prime Minister to question the decision of the FederalCourt over the approval of the Adani Mine in Queensland?

JULIEBISHOPI believe the Prime Minister isfocusing on how we can ensure that there is certainty for foreign investmentand ensure that Australia has a welcoming foreign investment environment. Afterall, there are many projects over many decades that would not have gotten offthe ground in Australia had it not been for foreign investment.AndAustralia must present as being "open for business", welcoming of foreigninvestment and ensuring that businesses and potential investors can have certaintyif they are to invest in our country.So I hear he is making statementsin relation to it but I won't go into further details–I'll leave that for thePrime Minister.

JOURNALISTOn the separation of powers though, isit appropriate for the Prime Minister to question an independent court'sdecision and criticise that court for overturning the Federal Government?

JULIEBISHOPThe Prime Minister has not sought toinfluence the Federal Court in any way.What the Prime Minister has beendoing has been commenting upon the need for there to be certainty in ourforeign investment environment and it's quite appropriate for him to seek to dothat–to send a message that we welcome foreign investment, that we need foreigninvestment if we are to provide the job opportunities for Australians in thefuture.And that means ensuring that a major project, subject to all theappropriate approvals, can get underway. So it's appropriate for the leader ofour country to remark upon how necessary it is for there to be that kind ofeconomic development in Australia to provide job opportunities for Australians.

JOURNALISTAn important Party Room meeting onMonday–do you have a preference as Speaker?

JULIEBISHOPI will be voting for one of thecontenders but I don't think I'll share it with Sky News, as much as you'd likeme to. I believe that we have a very strong field of candidates for theposition of Speaker.I've spoken to a number of them and I'm lookingforward to our Party Room choosing someone who I believe will uphold theappropriate standards required of the Speaker and I'm looking forward to thenext few weeks in Parliament as we push forward with our reform agenda.And I'm assuming that the Labor Party will behave with appropriate decorum inthe Parliament in the weeks, months and years ahead.

JOURNALISTWhat sort of qualities do you thinkthe new Speaker should have?

JULIEBISHOPI'm not about to give the new Speaker advice.I have no doubt that therewill be no shortage of advice for the new Speaker, but I won't add to thatperson's burden.I'm sure that whomever we choose will be competent andcarry out the duties professionally and competently.

JOURNALISTLooks like the Prime Minister'sputting together a team to look at travel entitlements for MPs.Is thissomething that's necessary?Is it time for MPs to reign in their expensesor does this have the potential to inhibit the work that politicians need todo?

JULIEBISHOPEver since we came into government wehave had entitlements and travel expenses and travel allowances under reviewand the Prime Minister has already made a number of changes. But I think itcomes down to the guidelines being adhered to using common sense and judgement.It's very difficult sometimes to specifically identify what can and can't bedone on any particular day in any particular circumstance. So if you applycommon sense and judgment–is this a necessary part of me carrying out myofficial duties–then I think that the system can operate.What the PrimeMinister has done is put in place a review so that if there are grey areas, wecan make them clearer, then that's in everybody's interest that we do that.

JOURNALISTSo you think hard and fast rulespotentially can make things difficult?

JULIEBISHOPWell I don't want to pre-empt theReview.We have some distinguished people involved in that Review, Ibelieve the Prime Minister wants to broaden it so that there's some practicalexperience – former politicians who know what it's like to fill out the travelallowance forms and fill out the travel entitlement forms from time totime.So some practical experience and no doubt they'll have someexamples of how the entitlements and travel allowances and business expensescan work in a more efficient and effective way. But at the end of the day, itcomes down to each Member of Parliament, each Member, each Senator, beingaccountable to the taxpayers for the use of taxpayers' funds. Applying theguidelines, applying common sense and good judgement and I hope that's what allmy colleagues continue to do.