Tv interview – Today Present

JAYNE AZZOPARDI, HOST: We are going to get some extra on Australia’s landmark defence cope with Papua New Guinea.

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: To focus on we’re joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, who could make Ok-Pop. Good morning to you, PM. Nice to see you this morning. Look, you lastly obtained there with PNG.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Morning. Great to be with you.

STEFANOVIC: Are you frightened about how China may react?

PRIME MINISTER: No, it was by no means doubtful, Karl, as I stated on the time. And it is a improbable deal, as Prime Minister Marape put it on this very hall right here simply yesterday, the thought of 1 fence, two neighbours. And it actually strengthens the nationwide sovereignty of each of our nations. It is our first alliance in additional than seven many years. So, it is a very massive deal. It says that ought to there be a standard risk, we’ll mix our efforts to defend our respective nations and assist one another out. And it truly is a concrete instance now in writing, of what’s our most essential relationship, in order that our nearest neighbour is our latest ally. You can after all swim from Saibai Island to PNG. So, we’re very shut. We have such an essential relationship going ahead. We’re going to get an NRL staff in 2028 from PNG. And subsequent Sunday, the Prime Minister’s 13 performs the PNG Prime Minister’s 13 in Port Moresby. And they are going to be welcomed to PNG, the Aussie staff, like absolute heroes after they arrive throughout the week.

AZZOPARDI: I’ve little question. Will this deal imply Australian troopers stationed on the border of PNG and Indonesia?

PRIME MINISTER: What it – no. What it means is that Australian troopers can be more and more taking part in PNG, and vice versa as nicely. There can be coaching of PNG personnel by the Australian Defence Force, rising interoperability of all of our defence belongings. And our most essential asset, after all, is our individuals. So, rising understanding there builds on the work that we have carried out with the Pacific Policing Initiative the place we’re coaching cops from all through the Pacific nations at Brisbane, and in centres, together with one in PNG. So that there is that frequent understanding and expertise and relationships – that’s so essential. So, it is a massive step ahead. It’ll now go to our respective Parliaments for endorsement by way of our Treaties Committee and their equal in PNG.

STEFANOVIC: No dramas right here. Do you anticipate any dramas there?

PRIME MINISTER: No, I believe it is going to be very warmly acquired. Of course, with issues like this, there’ll all the time be somebody who’ll put their hand up and say that they want issues carried out in a different way. But this was endorsed overwhelmingly by the Cabinet. Prime Minister Marape has been such a robust supporter of this. This is an method that got here from Papua New Guinea to Australia. And I used to be very a lot supportive the primary I heard of it, and was put to me, and we have labored actually exhausting. I walked the Kokoda Track with Prime Minister Marape final 12 months within the lead as much as Anzac Day. And one of many honours of my life has been the commemorating our diggers on Isurava on the memorial there on Anzac Day final 12 months. Australia and PNG’s relationship was cast.

STEFANOVIC: It makes a whole lot of sense. Okay, so you’ve got obtained – you’ve got misplaced Vanuatu and the Solomons, proper?

PRIME MINISTER: No, under no circumstances. We’re working intently with each of these nations. Vanuatu – we’ve an settlement that we’re working by way of, hoping to finalise that. But the PNG deal, after all, is by far our largest neighbour. It’s by far the most important neighbour within the Pacific. The PNG has a inhabitants equal of each different one of many Pacific Island nations. So, it’s a very vital deal certainly.

AZZOPARDI: So, now you’ve got obtained that deal in your again pocket once you head over to Washington D.C. later this month to satisfy with Donald Trump. How essential is that? And are you feeling nervous?

PRIME MINISTER: Not in any respect. I’ve had actually heat discussions with President Trump and I acquired a fairly beautiful letter, I’ve obtained to say, of invitation to attend the White House. Australia and the United States have such an essential relationship. They’re our most essential ally. We have an essential financial relationship as nicely. They’re main traders right here in Australia. America enjoys a commerce surplus with Australia. Our defence and safety relationship is so essential by way of the AUKUS agreements. I’ve simply been within the UK speaking with Prime Minister Starmer and the Defence Minister Healey and others there as nicely, about how essential that’s. When I used to be within the US on the UN, I used to be in a position to have interaction with President Trump, but additionally with individuals like Scott Bessent, the Secretary of the Treasury as nicely, about our essential financial relationship, safety relationship and other people to individuals relationship as nicely.

STEFANOVIC: We’ve obtained to run, and also you do too. More importantly, Parliament again right now. You should be nervous about dealing with a stiff Opposition.

PRIME MINISTER: Look, I’ll simply proceed to look at them preventing one another. I’ll be preventing in your viewers and preventing for Australians.

STEFANOVIC: Good to speak to you, PM. Thank you.