Television Interview, ABC News Breakfast

SUBJECTS: Ukraine; Middle East Conflict; Australia-Canada Relationship; US Tariff Decision.

JAMES GLENDAY, HOST: Let's go back to our top stories and get the Australian government's response to what's happening in those major conflicts overseas. We're joined now by the Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles. Richard, good morning and welcome back to News Breakfast.

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, James.

GLENDAY: There are developments in two major conflicts. I want to start in Ukraine, just because it's happened over the past couple of hours, do you actually think we're any closer to a ceasefire this morning?

MARLES: Look, James, it's a good question. Obviously we need to see how this plays out. Our principles fundamentally haven't changed. Obviously any attempt to bring about peace in Ukraine is welcome. There's been an enormous amount of loss of life in Ukraine and we do need to see moves towards a peace. But it can't be any peace. We need to see Ukraine empowered in this. Now, to be fair, there were the conversations with Ukraine which yielded the proposition that has been taken to Russia. But what's now important is that Russia cannot be rewarded in the way in which this plays out in terms of peace negotiations and that would be our concern at this moment. Yes, we want to see a peace. It cannot be peace on any terms though. And ultimately we will stand with Ukraine until Ukraine can resolve this dispute on their terms.

GLENDAY: Yeah, Australia's positions ultimately going to be swayed quite a bit on whatever our close allies do in this space. But just generally, do you think Vladimir Putin can actually be trusted to stand by any cease fire proposal? Because we've had these in the past and Vladimir Putin has broken agreements with other countries before.

MARLES: Well, that's absolutely right. So, it's a massive trust deficit when it comes to Vladimir Putin. And at the end of the day, Vladimir Putin is the person, the reason why this conflict started in the first place. He is the aggressor here. He is the one who has completely flouted the global rules‑based order by the invasion of Ukraine in the first place. So, it's very important that whatever is put in place absolutely holds Vladimir Putin to account and that Ukraine, but the international community, can be assured that there is validity in this ceasefire, that we can actually trust in this ceasefire. So, that is a really important point that you're raising. And again, we come back to the fact that at the end of the day, Ukraine must be empowered in this process. They must be the ones who are able to see this dispute resolved on their terms.

GLENDAY: Just to Gaza. The Hamas run health ministry says more than 400 people have been killed now by Israeli airstrikes. Are you concerned that the war has now effectively resumed?

MARLES: Yes, we are. And what we wanted to see was the ceasefire that was in place being continued. And that means that all the terms of the ceasefire be implemented, which includes the returning of all the hostages to Israel, and that was a critical component of the ceasefire. I think now what's really important is that the international community, and Australia will certainly lend our voice to this, are standing in support of being able to see a ceasefire being brought back and then being able to be retained as a permanent ceasefire. But at the end of the day, what that requires is hostages returned to Israel and obviously for the humanitarian assistance to then be supplied to the people of Gaza. We have seen so much death in the last 18 months or so in the Middle East. It is really critical that we see this come to an end and a ceasefire needs to be enduring.

GLENDAY: Your government's been consistent, said we don't want to have a megaphone with these sort of things. But is there going to be a diplomatic approach to Israel, others, to try to say, hey, come on, let's end the fighting or at least pause it again?

MARLES: Well, we've consistently used our voice bilaterally in respect of Israel, but internationally as well, around supporting a ceasefire, about supporting humanitarian efforts for those in Gaza, but also importantly, seeing the return of the hostages to Israel. The steps that Hamas took back on October 7 in 2023 were utterly unacceptable. They were an act of terror. It was completely reprehensible. And we've stood in condemnation of Hamas and we continue to do that. We need to see the return of hostages to Israel, we need to see humanitarian assistance flowing to the people of Gaza and we need to see an end to this conflict.

GLENDAY: The Prime Minister spoke to his new Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, overnight. Canada is of course the target of Donald Trump's tariffs. If the US retreats from the world stage, as it seems to be doing in certain areas, do Canada and Australia and other like minded countries need to be working much more closely together to try to uphold the rules that nations all abide by?

MARLES: Well, I mean we continue to work with Canada. Canada is a close partner, it's a Five Eyes partner and we've been working with Canada before Donald Trump became the President. And so I don't think it's really a function of that. What we saw was a really positive statement from the Canadian Prime Minister around Over the Horizon Radar technology which has been developed in Australia, which is exquisite technology which Canada is looking at exploring and working with Australia to see whether they can put this in place in terms of their own needs. And that will actually support the security of the entirety of North America, including the United States. What's in prospect here, there's a little water to go under the bridge, but what's in prospect here is potentially the biggest defence industry export that Australia has ever been a part of. And that would obviously be very good for Australian industry. But we've been working very closely with Canada, I visited my counterpart in Canada well before the inauguration of President Trump last year and indeed spoke with him earlier this week. And we'll continue to partner with a long term partner of this country.

GLENDAY: Just before we let you go and apologies for some of the audio issues we're experiencing. Should Australia be more vocal in defending Canada from some of the attacks it's being receiving from the United States and Donald Trump?

MARLES: Well, I mean Canada will stand up for itself obviously and what we're seeing is Canada working through its own issues in relation to the United States, and that's to be honest, a matter between Canada and the US. Clearly we are also doing what we're doing in relation to promoting Australian trade with the United States. The United States remains the cornerstone of our national security in terms of the significance of the Alliance and we are working very closely with the Trump Administration and we'll continue to do that as we go forward. I met with my counterpart, Pete Hegseth about a month ago now in the United States and so we'll continue to work with the United States, we'll continue to work with Canada and with our other friends and allies around the world because that's, you know, that's how we go about our business on the international stage.

GLENDAY: All right, Richard Marles, thank you so much for your time this morning and apologies again for some of those audio and technical issues.

MARLES: Thanks, James.