Interview on FIVEAA Breakfast

Will Goodings, Host: All right, let's head to Washington D.C. now, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, has been at the inauguration of the 47th President Donald Trump, right throughout the day. Foreign Minister, good morning to you and welcome to 5AA Breakfast.

Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good morning. Great to be with you both. How's Adelaide going?

David Penberthy, Host: It's good, thank you, Penny. It's nice and warm, unlike Washington. I tell you what, though, you've had a. You've had a front row seat for history over there. What's it like and what's it like coming from the left of politics? What's it like being there, hearing, you know, some of the presidential orders that are being flagged. We're renaming the Gulf of Mexico. Is it a bit surreal?

Foreign Minister: Well, first, David, it really is quite an extraordinary privilege and honour to represent the country at an inauguration. I'm the first Australian Foreign Minister ever to be invited and to attend on your behalf. So, that was a, that was a real privilege and it's such an extraordinary moment, you know, the transfer of power, peaceful transfer of power in this great democracy, with all the pomp and ceremony and music and sense of occasion that America is so good at. So, it really was quite an event.

Goodings: Minister, there's a couple of major issues that I think will directly affect many South Australians and people listening out of today. And I just want to gauge your level of comfort with, with them both. And, and they, they are obviously AUKUS. And we've got the Defence Industry Minister here in town today to make an announcement about the supply chain, which is obviously particularly exciting, but there has been some conjecture about what future it has under a Trump presidency. The other thing is, is trade and I guess that has more broader application in terms of our exporters and the threat of tariffs. How comfortable are you that those things will continue as we have enjoyed them under the previous terms of our relationship with the United States?

Foreign Minister: I'm really pleased at the extent of the bipartisan support for AUKUS that we've seen and, you know, credit to Ambassador Rudd and his team and also to both our foreign affairs and defence officials, because there's been so much work done with members of Congress, both Republican and Democrat. I think there is a very strong and deep understanding of the benefits that AUKUS brings to all three countries, including, obviously, the United States. Marco Rubio, the incoming Secretary of State, has made some very strong comments, public comments in support of AUKUS. So, I feel very confident that we can outline very clearly to the Americans the benefits to them of this partnership. I feel very strongly that the incoming administration has a very strong understanding of the benefits of AUKUS to America and to broader objectives of peace and security. Now, on trade, which is the second part of your question, obviously President Trump has made clear his views about America first. That was central to his campaign. The point I will keep making over here is that we've had a, we have a long standing economic relationship. That there is a surplus in the US's favour. So, that is, they export more to us than we export back to them. And of what we export back to them, about half of it goes into the US supply chain. So, are inputs into American production. So, it's a very beneficial relationship to the United States. And that's certainly the position I'll be putting on behalf of Australia.

Penberthy: Penny, in the time since you've been in Parliament, from memory, I think you were there when Bill Clinton visited in the late 90s. You were certainly there when Barack Obama came out, when Julia Gillard was Foreign Minister. I think you were probably there when George W Bush came, when there was that memorable interjection from Bob Brown on the floor.

Foreign Minister: Bob Brown.

Penberthy: Yeah. Do you think, will the Albanese government be extending an invitation to Donald Trump to visit Australia?

Foreign Minister: Look, you know, as I said, I was asked this earlier today and I said, look, we were very pleased to get an early call. We're very honoured and privileged to be asked to attend the inauguration. One of a very small group of foreign governments that was asked to be represented at the inauguration. I'm sure that the President and the Prime Minister will have a call in the near future when it's convenient. And you know, Australia always welcomes American presidents should they wish to visit the region.

Goodings: Good stuff. Foreign Minister Penny Wong joining us from Washington. Stay warm, Senator, and we'll see you back here soon enough. Penny Wong joining us.

Foreign Minister: It's great. You know, a week ago I was down on Goolwa Beach, so it's been a bit different, a bit of a change.

Goodings: A change, certainly. Absolutely. Good on you, Penny Wong there. Thank you for that.

Foreign Minister: No worries, great to speak with you, cheers, bye.