Interview with Karl Stefanovic and the Hon Richard Marles MP, Today Show, Channel Nine

KARL STEFANOVIC:

Let's get more now on the unfolding flood crisis in the two states. Let's bring in our politicians; Defence Minister Peter Dutton in Brissie and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Richard Marles in Geelong.

Guys, thank you so much for your time today. Pete, just first of all, in relation to northern New South Wales, we had several calls last night, and I did personally from people who are saying people are stranded, they've got supply issues, there's no food, there's no water, they're running out of both, and the communications are down. Is there anything more the ADF can and should be doing?

PETER DUTTON:

Well Karl, the Australian Defence Force will have about 2,000 personnel out providing support over obviously geographically a massive area.

KARL STEFANOVIC:

Yeah.

PETER DUTTON:

And you're right, as these stories come to our attention, the ADF will respond immediately and, you know, they'll supplement the work that's being done by the local councils, by the State Government, by the SES and there are limitations on what can be done.

We've saved now, rescued 103 people using the helicopters and there'll be a lot more on the road in the clean-up. We've had troops in Gympie helping there with the clean-up, obviously in the southeast corner of Queensland spanning all the way down the east coast toward Western Sydney.

So this is a massive area that they're covering and I think the effort that they've undertaken is quite phenomenal and the acts of bravery that we've seen should make us all proud, but this work will continue 24/7 until people are through the recovery of this.

KARL STEFANOVIC:

There is no question of the job they have done and the bravery they have shown, even this rescue yesterday that we saw in Sydney. There's no question about that. I think people, they find it reassuring and they want to see more of it in some of those parts, particularly in northern New South Wales this morning.

PETER DUTTON:

They're fair calls and as I say, we'll respond with all the might of the Australian Defence Force. There's a standing offer with Telstra, with the NBN company and with the electricity companies, energy companies, etc, that if they can't get in to provide battery back-up or to reconnect electricity to those crucial bits of infrastructure, the ADF will provide that, either through helicopter support or through their vehicles to go across terrain that's inaccessible otherwise.

KARL STEFANOVIC:

Yeah.

PETER DUTTON:

There's quite a broad range of effort that's underway from the ADF specialists, but they're stretched across a long distance at the moment.

KARL STEFANOVIC:

Okay, it'll be a relief to hear that some more help is on the way, particularly in areas I think west of Mullumbimby there are some 500 people in the hills there who need some help. Richard, there's a $4.8 billion relief fund and only a fraction of that has been spent. If you were treasurer today, what would you spend that money and how much on?

RICHARD MARLES:

Well I heard your interview yesterday with the Treasurer around this question and we are concerned that no money has been spent from this in relation to disaster mitigation, which is what it's there for.

I mean it is there to prepare for exactly these kinds of events and, you know, we are going to see a lot more of these events in the future, not just in terms of flood, but bushfire, but extreme weather events giving rise to this.

So it's really important that the fund that's been established exactly for this, is actually being spent on it. I think the idea that it's been there accruing interest, and nothing's been spent is, you know, will have a lot of people scratching their heads about what it was all for.

But can I just also say Karl, in response to the Defence Force, you are right. The work they have done has been sensational. We are so lucky to have the quality of the Defence Force that we've got, and not just the ADF, but all the emergency service workers. I think this has been a really tragic event. It will be so dispiriting for everyone involved that the sense of needing to start again in their lives, but we have seen the best of Australia come out in the last week and it has been an incredible thing to see.

KARL STEFANOVIC:

I was on the ground with Cyclone Yasi and the Brisbane floods in 2011 and I can tell you Pete, it's so…it's actually reassuring when people are going through huge amounts of anxiety and stress and actual grief, to see the ADF on the streets in force. Just seeing scenes like that, it's what this country is made of and the courage they've shown is exceptional. Is there anything more that you can commit to those areas, are you hamstrung by State Governments, what needs to happen to make it happen?

PETER DUTTON:

Well Karl, you know to be honest I think we're working very closely with both the Queensland Government and the New South Wales Government. There's a standing arrangement that's in place. We've cut away the bureaucracy and we've pre-positioned people. We brought assets from Amberley down to Oakey, from Townsville south, we brought assets from Sydney north.

KARL STEFANOVIC:

Yeah.

PETER DUTTON:

The effort on the ground is frustrated in some areas because it's inaccessible, even to the ADF with their vehicles to get in and start the clean-up, so I understand the frustration. There's huge frustration in parts of Brisbane at the moment because of the storms that were predicted yesterday. People were already undertaking, or had already completed the clean-up in some areas only to be inundated by the heavy rainfalls that we had again yesterday. So that's sort of a double heartbreak for those people as well.

KARL STEFANOVIC:

Yeah.

PETER DUTTON:

Which is devastating to watch and you're right, there is a sense of reassurance when the ADF rolls into those streets, and they know that. We were out at Gallipoli Barracks the other day and they understand the gravity that they bring to a local area to boost the spirits and to help people get back on their feet.

KARL STEFANOVIC:

Okay. Look, there's a couple of other issues really quickly if we can, and thank you for that.

The Ukraine. Pete, the PM was up in the middle of the night last holding an emergency meeting with the Quad. Can you tell us what came out of that?

PETER DUTTON:

Well Karl, there's obviously a huge requirement in our region and a concentration of effort in our region that's ongoing. We're very worried about this compact between China and Russia, this unbreakable friendship as they describe it.

The Quad is a very important coming together of Japan, India, the United States and Australia and it's a commitment to peace and security and stability in our region. All of those principles will have been underlined in the meeting and I think there should be some reassurance there.

But in terms of the Ukraine, that continues to deteriorate. That is deeply distressing to watch the scenes unfold, the shelling of residential areas, there's obviously interest now from the International Criminal Court, the war crimes allegations that are being made. All of this devastation can be stopped if President Putin has the decency to stop where he is and turn his troops back.

KARL STEFANOVIC:

Richard, one final one for you. Anthony Albanese's facing some criticism for leaving Sydney and going to WA. Your response to those criticisms?

RICHARD MARLES:

Oh look, I think Albo was very keen to be in WA on the day that WA opened to the country and in a sense, we came back together as a nation. I think there'll be so many families that are being reunited at the moment who are so happy about the fact that the border is now open.

It's great to see Albo over there, as it is great to see the border open. So I think it's a completely reasonable decision on the part of Anthony to do that in the week of his birthday no less, where if I might say, I think Albo is looking like a man who is coming into form at the right end of the season.

PETER DUTTON:

You're a crawler Richard.

KARL STEFANOVIC:

Pete, a man…

PETER DUTTON:

You're a crawler.

KARL STEFANOVIC:

The man's got to campaign, Pete.

PETER DUTTON:

Why don't you sing him happy birthday? Sing him happy birthday, on bended knee if you must.

RICHARD MARLES:

I've sung you happy birthday.

PETER DUTTON:

That was enough. One a year.

KARL STEFANOVIC:

Guys, at the end of a long week and ongoing we appreciate your time today and your thoughts about the ADF and the job they've done. Well heralded. Appreciate your time, thank you so much.

[ends]