Radio Interview, FiveAA Adelaide

SUBJECT/S: TAFE places in South Australia; AUKUS; Black by-election; Australia-US Alliance; Ukraine

HOST, MATTHEW PANTELIS: On the line, Richard Marles, the Acting Prime Minister and also Defence Minister, he's in Adelaide today. He's made a major announcement about training opportunities and moving forward with AUKUS. Acting pm. Good morning.

ACTING PRIME MINISTER, RICHARD MARLES: Good morning, Matthew, how are you?

PANTELIS: Good, thank you. So, we know lots of jobs on the way and AUKUS ramps up. TAFE SA is going to play a leading role in this. Tell us about the announcement today.

MARLES: Well, today is just another in the building blocks of announcements that we're making which will really grow this workforce of the future. But today we've announced almost 300 entry level training opportunities for young people in Adelaide to enter the naval construction industry. That will see one programme which will deliver a 12 month traineeship which will give people on the job experience at the end of which there'll be a Cert 3 qualification and then a second programme which will deliver a full four year apprenticeship in areas such as fabrication, mechanical, electrical qualifications. TAFE SA, as you say, is the lead partner here. We've been at the Regency park campus today, which is where most of the training will occur. Peer is one of the partners, the partner with TAFE SA in terms of delivering this. But all of this really, as I said, it's just another step in the broader programme that we've got in terms of building skills that we need. The human equation here is really the great challenge, I think, in terms of putting in place what we need to build submarines in the future in South Australia. Meeting that challenge is about investing in the training which is what we're doing. But of course that challenge also represents just a great opportunity for young people in Adelaide to get into a high tech, high skilled, high paid job.

PANTELIS: Alright. Now, as Defence Minister also, you'd be well aware of the concerns in the election of Donald Trump. Could the Defence pact be in danger? How confident are you Trump's committed to AUKUS?

MARLES: Well, I am confident. I mean, when you look at what the Trump Republicans have not just said, but done, it has been in support of both the Alliance with Australia, but also our key equities within that which AUKUS is front and centre. I mean this time last year we had legislation which went through the United States Congress which enabled AUKUS. That legislation which saw the enabling, for example, of the sale of the Virginia class submarines to Australia, the creation of a seamless defence industrial base between our two countries. That legislation was supported by Trump Republicans. And in all the engagement that we've had with those who have been involved in President Trump's campaign what we've seen is support for AUKUS. And indeed, you know, if you look at the announcements that he's made of personnel over the course of the last 24, 48 hours, their statements have been supportive of AUKUS as well. So, you know, AUKUS makes sense. It makes strategic sense in the context of Australia's strategic interests, but also America's. And that's ultimately why we have a sense of confidence that we will be able to progress this with the Trump Administration and we're really looking forward to that opportunity.

PANTELIS: Would you look to use people like Scott Morrison and maybe particularly Joe Hockey, who's got a golfing relationship with Donald Trump? They get on really well. Do we need to smooth the waters and keep the, you know, the peace, if you like, between lines of communication, call it what you will between Australia and the US by using people with, obviously, well, people that Donald Trump knows and likes?

MARLES: Oh, well, look, we have spoken with both of those people and they have done a really good job in supporting Australia's national interest and we use whatever avenues we can. But what I would say is that as a government, we look really forward to working closely with the Trump Administration. You know, I've met numbers of Republicans and Trump Republicans over the past couple of years, particularly as we've pursued our interests through the United States Congress. And, you know, we will build those government to government relationships. And we saw that with the conversation that happened between Prime Minister Albanese and President Trump last week. I really have no doubt that we will be able to build that relationship and take it forward.

PANTELIS: Joe Hockey is also former U.S. ambassador. Do you need him to smooth over the Kevin Rudd cracks? Is his position as ambassador tenable?

MARLES: Look, Kevin has done a really great job in representing Australia's interests as he's been the ambassador to the US. Again, we saw that with the passage of the legislation through to Congress last year. That was Kevin working across the political spectrum with Trump Republicans. Kevin was there at the Republican National Convention earlier this year. He's played a really important role in introducing a number of us to people on the Republican side of the House. And so, I mean, Kevin is a professional. Kevin has vast experience. He's not just in terms of his own political experience and government experience, but also having led a globally significant think tank. His is an opinion that is sought out across the spectrum in the United States and he really is a person who is well placed to advance our interests with the future Trump Administration. I'm sure that's what's going to happen.

PANTELIS: We've got a by-election coming up here in South Australia, as I'm sure you're aware, on Saturday. And if you've had the chance to see the front page of the paper, the Advertiser today, the suggestion is a backlash against the Federal Government over cost of living. Given the results in the US as well, is that likely to impact the federal election next year? Are you expecting that? Are you fearful of that?

MARLES: Well, I mean, we've been making it really clear from actually the outset of our government that cost of living is the fundamental issue that's facing the Australian people today and very much facing people here in Adelaide. It's why we've been really waging a war on inflation. That's why we've delivered two surpluses in the two years that we've been governing, something that the Liberals never did in the entirety of their time in government. And that's the most important thing that we can do. Managing the budget prudently in terms of putting a downward pressure on inflation. And where we have spent money, it has been in respect of cost of living relief. You've seen that with the tax cuts that we put in place, with the energy bill relief. That is very much our focus. And, you know, we are very happy to be talking about cost of living. We get the challenge that is faced by Australian people, we get the pain that Australian people are in and you know, the job is far from done. But this is what we have been focused on. And that is very much where we seek to put forward what we've done, but what we intend to do more of if given the opportunity of being re-elected next year. And we really know that Australians are doing it tough and they need a government that is completely focused on cost of living. And that's what we've been and what we will be.

PANTELIS: Alright, just finally on Ukraine and again with your Defence Minister hat on and your acting PM hat we've given over a billion dollars here in Australia in defence and humanitarian aid. Donald Trump saying he could end this in 24 hours. Whether he does it in 24, 48 or a bit longer, it seems likely if the war does end Russia has to get something out of it. Do you think Trump can broker a peace deal between the two countries? I mean, the money we've given and the money the US has given is enough to create a stalemate. It's not enough for Ukraine to win. What could Trump do that's any different if it doesn't include ceding land?

MARLES: Well, I mean, let's see what plays out when President Trump is sworn in. But I think the important point to make right now is that what's at stake in Ukraine, from the Ukrainian people's point of view is obviously their nation, but from a global point of view is the global rules based order. And those rules, the international rules by which we live, are so important, particularly for a country of our size, because in the absence of that, the world really runs on the basis of the rule of power. And that removes agency for medium sized countries like our own and like Ukraine. And that's why, you know, we see Australia's national interest very much tied up in Ukraine's success and being able to resolve this conflict on its own terms. That's why we have stood with Ukraine and will continue to stand with Ukraine, as of course has America, as of course has NATO and countries like right around the world. There's a lot at stake here and we need to be making sure that we are living in a country, in a world, I should say, which is governed by rules and by order, not simply by power. And that is fundamentally what's at stake in Ukraine right now. And that's why we'll stand with the people of Ukraine.

PANTELIS: All right, Acting PM. Have to leave it there. Thanks for your time.

MARLES: Thanks, Matthew.

ENDS