Television Interview, Today

SUBJECTS: Ukraine; Middle East Conflict; Defence Funding; Cost of Living Relief. 

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: More now on that breaking news out of Washington D.C., the White House issuing a statement detailing Donald Trump's 90 minute phone call with Vladimir Putin revealing a conditional ceasefire on the cards so long as all aid to Ukraine stops. We're joined now by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles in Brisbane. G'day, Richard. Nice to see you this morning. Do you believe Vladimir Putin is legit here? I mean, no one can really trust the dude, right?

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: I think that's a fair assessment, Karl. I mean, look, obviously any moves towards peace we have to welcome, but I think our principles stay the same here. Obviously Ukraine needs to be empowered in this process. Now, to be fair, America has involved Ukraine in what's been put to Russia. But I think the other point here is that it's really important that Russia is not rewarded in what is put forward here and how this plays out. And that's got to be the issue here. We do want to see peace, but it can't be peace on any terms. At the end of the day, Russia are the aggressors here. Russia are the ones who have done wrong. And we need to be standing with Ukraine and Ukraine needs to be able to resolve this on their own terms.

STEFANOVIC: A peace deal would mean no troops on the ground for us, that's a good thing?

MARLES: Well, I mean, let's see where it goes in terms of what peace looks like and what's asked of friends and allies in relation to the sustainment of that peace.

STEFANOVIC: Ok. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is a different story. It's shattered. Israel says it's coordinated its attacks with the US. Have you expressed your disdain to your US counterparts or just let that one slide?

MARLES: Well, I mean, obviously the ceasefire being broken down is very disappointing. We wanted to see the entire terms of the ceasefire fulfilled. And to be clear, that does mean the return of hostages to Israel. That was part of the terms of the ceasefire. What we need now to be seeing is that the international community are supporting the full terms of the ceasefire to be fulfilled, but so supporting all the parties in terms of maintenance of the ceasefire going on. I think for all of us, there has been so much death in the Middle East over such a long period of time now. We don't want to see this continue and we'll be exercising our voice to see that a ceasefire is maintained.

STEFANOVIC: Okay. Round two of Trump's trade war is coming, has Don Farrell done a deal yet? Has he made Trump an offer he couldn't refuse? Or is the US just not that into you?

MARLES: Well, what the US is doing is what they said they were going to do, to be fair, as far back as the lead up to the last US election. We're going to continue to stand up for Australia's interest to make sure that that is being put very forcefully to the United States and that the argument is being made about why it makes sense for the United States to have this trade be going there without tariffs upon them. I mean, what we export to the United States, we do so in a manner which supports American jobs. That's the fundamental point here. They've enjoyed a trade surplus with us for a very long period of time. What matters here is that we are doing everything we can to be arguing for Australian trade and we'll continue to do that.

STEFANOVIC: It's not going to work, though, right?

MARLES: Well, let's see what happens. Last time it took the better part of nine months before there were any exemptions provided to Australia. We will continue to make the argument to the United States about the importance of trade.

STEFANOVIC: The Coalition says it's ready to spend $15 billion on defence. You've got $400 million for a little spit and polish on our naval fleet. Is that enough?

MARLES: Well, you cannot take a single word that the Coalition says at face value. The Coalition, when we came to government, had promised $42 billion worth of spending without putting a single dollar behind it. I mean, that's the reality of what they did. They had 28 different projects running a combined 97 years over time. Right now we've put $50 billion of additional spending over the next decade into the budget, but they still haven't supported that, Karl. So, words are cheap here. And we know that. And we know that the Coalition have been expert at talking the vibe, but when it actually comes to putting the rubber on the road, they're pretty skinny, you don't often see that – 

STEFANOVIC: Sorry, just quickly, voters also blame Labor for their bill pain at the moment, groceries one day, power the next. No matter what you guys say and pay, voters blame you for the hurt they're experiencing.

MARLES: Well, we've seen real cost of living pressures on Australians over the last few years, as we have seen that across the developed world. And we, you know, the focus of our efforts since we've been in government has been to reduce that cost of living pressure. And we've seen, you know, real steps taken forward in that. That's why we've had a tax cut for just about everyone. That's why we have had energy bill relief. All of these measures have been opposed by Peter Dutton and the Coalition, like they have nothing to say when it comes to easing the burden of cost of living on Australians. We now have inflation down at 2.4% –

STEFANOVIC: But Richard– you're carrying the can, it's on you. The power bills, the grocery prices just this week and they're going to blame you.

MARLES: Sure, and that's why, when you look at everything that we have done across three budgets and it will be in our fourth, cost of living relief has been front and centre in terms of all the initiatives that we have put forward. That's why you have seen tax relief from Labor, that's why you've seen energy bill relief. And remarkably, that has been opposed by Peter Dutton. So, we're absolutely– we've been governing and we've been governing in the interests of easing the pressure on cost of living. But when people go to the ballot box, they'll have a very clear choice. There's one team in Labor which is doing everything it can to ease the cost of living pressures. There's another who does not have a single policy in relation to it, who landed this country with wage stagnation and inflation at 6.1% and going north.

STEFANOVIC: Let's just get this thing done. Oh, it's too much already.

MARLES: Looking forward to that as well.