Radio interview with Sabra Lane, ABC AM

Sabra Lane, host: Penny Wong, welcome.

Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good to be with you.

Lane: When Mr Trump won in 2016 the Turnbull Government needed golfer Greg Norman's help to get in touch to congratulate him. Have you needed that kind of assistance this time round?

Foreign Minister: Well first can I congratulate Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States, and say again that there is long‑standing, strong bipartisan support for the alliance in both Australia and the United States. We will obviously, continue to work very closely with America as an old ally and a true friend.

In terms of contact, obviously it's very early days and we look forward to being able to engage with the new administration soon.

Lane: You met with Mike Pompeo recently; he was the Secretary of State under Mr Trump during his first term. Mr Pompeo is likely to have another major role this time. Have you spoken with him recently?

Foreign Minister: I met with Mike Pompeo when I was in New York recently. Obviously, we've been preparing for the likelihood, or the possibility of a President Trump being re‑elected, and it was a very good engagement. I look forward to speaking to him soon.

Lane: Mr Trump has campaigned on imposing a 10 to 20 per cent universal tariff on imports. Can Australia avoid that? We managed to avoid some tariffs on steel during the first Presidency through diplomacy.

Foreign Minister: Look, Sabra, President Trump has run a campaign based on change. One of those is the one you identify. He's made it clear he's going to do things differently so we shouldn't be surprised if things change.

But equally, Australia should be confident in ourselves, in our place in the world and our ability to work together to deliver on our interests. We'll certainly be doing that.

Lane: Mr Rudd, Australia's Ambassador to the United States, has said that Mr Trump is nuts and the most destructive President in US history. Mr Trump's daughter‑in‑law has said that it would be hard for him to stay on. Has he tried to mend bridges with the Trump camp?

Foreign Minister: Look, I think you've seen from Kevin's work that Ambassador Rudd has been highly effective with both Republicans and Democrats, demonstrated by the work he's done in Congress to land the very important legislation and other measures to deliver AUKUS. So, we're confident that Mr Rudd will continue to do an excellent job in engaging with the new administration.

Lane: Might it be in the national interest to appoint someone else from the other side, someone like Scott Morrison who has rapport with the Trump team?

Foreign Minister: Oh, look, the national interest is I think outlined by Joe Hockey recently when he spoke about these matters. He said it doesn't matter whether you're Liberal, Labor, Green, whatever, Australia first, and that's certainly the approach I hope the political leaders will take in relation to backing in our Ambassador and the Government as we engage with the new administration.

Lane: What will it mean for the AUKUS deal for Australia to acquire nuclear-propelled submarines? The Greens and the Labor against war movement within the ALP says now that Australia should withdraw from the agreement as Mr Trump, they say, is “unstable and dangerous”.

Foreign Minister: I would make a few points; first, we wish to acquire submarines because we want a deterrent to enable peace. That is the objective and that is the intention, and it is an important part of making sure we maintain a peaceful, stable and prosperous region. That's why we want this capability.

The second point I'd make is there's been strong bipartisan support for AUKUS, particularly through the Congress, which you would have seen both with the passage of legislation and also in public comments.

Finally, I again make the point, these submarines are a sovereign capability for Australia.

Lane: Mr Trump is unconventional, he's vindictive, this could mean Ukraine loses US backing and the US withdrawing from the Paris Climate Change Agreement. How will Australia respond to that?

Foreign Minister: Well, I've made the first point that, you know, this alliance is one in which we share so many strategic objectives, it's shaped by enduring friendship and timeless democratic values. And it's an alliance which has through its history there have been times where leaders and governments have disagreed. Prime Minister Howard refused additional troop requests in 2003 and 2004; the previous Trump administration withdrew from global commitments on climate. We did not.

So, what I would say is we will continue to work with the new administration and the alliance is big enough and strong enough to deal with differences. Ultimately, we share a high degree of alignment and strategic objectives.

Lane: Mr Trump's slogan, "Do you feel better now than you did four years ago" really cut through with the working-class white men in particular. They seem to have deserted the Democrats. What lessons are there for Labor in the way he campaigned as you approach the next Federal election?

Foreign Minister: Obviously, Australia and America are long-standing friends and share democratic values. Each country has its own set of processes and issues that matter to voters, and we don't need the US election to understand that cost‑of‑living is the first priority of Australian voters right now. People are doing it tough and that is why you've seen this Government bring forward a tax cut for every Australian taxpayer, to bring forward stronger Medicare measures, including cheaper medicines, and to provide energy bill relief. All of these things opposed by Mr Dutton.

We want to continue to deliver cost‑of‑living relief in a way that doesn't add to inflation.

Lane: Penny Wong, thanks for talking to AM. 

Foreign Minister: Good to speak with you.