Interview with Radio National Breakfast

Sally Sara, Host: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, now joins me from a very cold Washington DC. Minister, welcome back to Radio National Breakfast.

Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Great to be with you, Sally. And yes, it is pretty cool here, but we were inside today, so that was in many ways a welcome relief.

Sara: Minister, let's start with Australia's economic relationship with the United States. Has Australia secured guarantees from the Trump Administration that Australia will not be subjected to tariff plans?

Foreign Minister First, Sally, if I could, I just want to congratulate President Trump on his inauguration and to say to you it was such an honour to be there as the first Australian Foreign Minister to be invited to an inauguration and to represent the country at that event. In terms of the economic relationship, obviously, the President's speech today reiterated the same point he's made throughout his campaign about America first and how that will play into economic policy. We don't obviously have the detail of those announcements yet. What I can tell you is what I have been saying since I've been here in Washington to those I meet, is that we have a relationship, a very strong economic relationship with the US, that the US has a surplus with Australia and has had since President Truman's time. So, decades ago. It's about two to one in America's favour. And about half of Australia's exports to the United States, in fact, go into America's supply chain. So, this is a relationship of great economic benefit to the United States.

Sara: So, will Australia be seeking a guarantee, or in your view, is the relationship strong enough that you think a guarantee is not needed?

Foreign Minister We will be working through with it, in terms of any announcement, the new Administration, we will be advocating for Australia's interest. Obviously, those announcements have not yet been made, but what I would say is this relationship matters to our economic interests and to our national security interests. And I'm here, obviously, at the invitation of the new Administration to attend the inauguration, but also to advocate for and to express Australia's views and Australia's interests, both in relation to our economic interests, but also our security interests.

Sara: Minister, let's have a look at some of the remarks that President Trump made in his inaugural address today. He said today, quote, 'as of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States Government that there are only two genders, male and female'. What is the Australian Government's position on that issue?

Foreign Minister Well, look, I, as the Foreign Minister, I don't intend to comment on these domestic matters that President Trump has outlined his policy on. I mean, these are matters for the United States, just as, you know, these are matters that Australia has our approach on.

Sara: That's why I was asking what the Australian Government's position is on gender.

Foreign Minister Well, I think the Prime Minister was asked this in the campaign, and I'll refer you to his answer. But I don't intend, particularly while I'm here in Washington, to comment on President Trump's domestic policy announcement.

Sara: If President Trump is talking about rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion programs and only recognising two sexes, male and female, what will that mean for members and representatives of the Australian Government and public servants who will be working closely and directly with the Administration? Will you be seeking guarantees about their treatment?

Foreign Minister Sally, I think you are working very hard to ask me to comment on a domestic policy announcement that the President made just a few hours ago, and as I said to you, I don't intend to do that. I have a job to do here in Washington, and that is to advocate for Australia's interests, our security interests and our economic interests, and that's what I'll be doing.

Sara: We spoke on the program this morning to former Australian Ambassador to the US Joe Hockey, and he said that the handbrake is off in a second Trump Administration, that the President will no longer be constrained. Do you think that this second term, will it be more one of disruption than the first Trump presidency?

Foreign Minister I'll probably leave to commentators, or past Ambassadors like Mr Hockey, the space to make that sort of commentary. I would say this President Trump has made it very clear he's going to do things differently. He's made it clear he's going to implement an America first agenda. And we should, I think, be realistic about that. We should also be confident in who we are - in our values, our place in the world, and our ability to deliver on our national interests. And that's what we will be focused on in these coming weeks and months.

Sara: You're listening to Radio National Breakfast. The Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong is my guest from Washington DC. Minister, Donald Trump has also said that with Panama, China is operating the Panama Canal, we didn't give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we are taking it back. What do you think about those remarks?

Foreign Minister Well, I think that that is an expression of his view, and the President's view, and the approach that they will take vis a vis China. And I think that is an unsurprising approach given what has been said during the campaign in relation to China. I look forward to a discussion with the Secretary of State, which I'll be having tomorrow, about the approach that the Trump Administration will take. Obviously, our primary area of concern is our region, the Indo Pacific, and that's what I'll be focused on.

Sara: The incoming Secretary of State has had some very strong views about China. Do you share his hawkish position on China?

Foreign Minister The position on China I have articulated consistently for some time now, since prior to our election, and that I've sought to implement in government which I've described as cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in the national interests. I've made clear that there are areas where we can cooperate. I've also made clear there are areas where we do disagree, and we will. Whether they are in relation to international law, matters in the South China Sea, or in relation to human rights, and we have been very upfront about that.

Sara: Under the Trump Administration do you have confidence that the production rate of nuclear submarines, which will affect the AUKUS agreement, that that production rate can be lifted, as it's currently behind schedule?

Foreign Minister We know AUKUS is a huge endeavour. It's a huge endeavour for all nations that are party to this partnership. It's a national endeavour for Australia, it's a national endeavour for the United Kingdom, and it's a national endeavour for the United States. And obviously the intention behind AUKUS is to add to the industrial and production capacity in all three nations. There's a lot of work to do, and we're very focused on doing it, because ultimately this is about making sure we have the deterrence that is a precondition to stability and peace in our region.

Sara: Minister, just finally, Australia has been very supportive of a ceasefire in Gaza. Will Australia provide support for the reconstruction of Gaza? What's our position on that?

Foreign Minister First, can I welcome again the ceasefire. I know that this is a ceasefire Mr. Dutton opposed, but it's a ceasefire that has been brought about by both the outgoing Biden Administration and the incoming Trump Administration. It has been so important and so moving to see the return of hostages. And we know that we need to see more humanitarian assistance and more aid into Gaza. Now, we have already committed some $94.5 million in humanitarian assistance to support civilians impacted by conflicts in both Gaza and in Lebanon, and we certainly will look at what the international community seeks in terms of further support for stability in the region. We know there is a lot of work to do.

Sara: Minister, we'll need to leave it there. Thank you for your time from Washington DC this morning.

Foreign Minister Great to speak with you, Sally.

Sara: That's the Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong.