E&OE TRANSCRIPT
Topics: US tariffs; Ukraine peacekeeping.
SARAH ABO, HOST: Joining us to discuss today's headlines is Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth and Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie. Good morning to you both. Ok, so we know that then Trump very swiftly retaliated on his Truth Social account, saying, I always thought he was a weak and ineffective leader and obviously Australians agreed with me. Amanda, Turnbull then effectively said we shouldn't become a conga line of sycophants. How helpful is this exchange for the Government?
AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: I would say that Malcolm Turnbull has a long history of providing commentary. This won't be the first time or the last time he weighs in. But he's not a member of the Government. Our Government is absolutely focused on making sure that we are standing up for Australian exporters, deepening our security relationship and building our secure relationship with the US. Importantly, also making sure we're looking after Australian jobs. So, our focus is absolutely on our national interests. That's where we have been focused on and that's where we'll continue to.
SARAH ABO: Unfortunately, it seems those talks are actually going nowhere. I mean, Bridget, this is your Coalition's former leader meddling where he probably shouldn't. Should we kiss our chances of a tariff exemption goodbye?
BRIDGETMCKENZIE, NATIONALS SENATOR: Well, the Prime Minister has one job and that is to get an exemption for our steel and aluminium.
SARAH ABO: Turnbull's not helping him though on the US tariffs.
BRIDGETMCKENZIE: Well, it's up to the Prime Minister, Sarah. At the end of the day, we've got over 100,000 people employed in our smelters, our steelworks, our refineries throughout that steel and aluminium supply chain here onshore that rely on this exemption actually getting done. And unfortunately, our Prime Minister is the only member of the Quad who hasn't sat down with President Trump and established that personal relationship. Last time this came up, the Coalition Government was able to secure that exemption because of those personal relationships.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: That is not true, Bridget. That's inaccurate to say that the Prime Minister hasn't put forward our views directly to President Trump. He has, as you know. You know that our Prime Minister was one of the first to congratulate President Trump and we have been very strongly putting forward Australia's position when it comes to these tariffs and we will continue to do that. We're not going to play politics with it. We' going to get on with the job, standing up for Australia's interests.
BRIDGETMCKENZIE: The UK Prime Minister, the Indian Prime Minister, three other leaders of the Quad. The only one missing is Albanese.
SARAH ABO: Bridget, I will say though, when, you know, you guys are quick to jump on Kevin Rudd. Obviously, Keating's played his part as well here. Now that Turnbull said something, you've gone quiet. I mean, it's not his role to meddle here.
BRIDGETMCKENZIE: He got the deal done when he was in Government. There's one person that can get this done. It's not sending your whipping boy, Jim Chalmers over last week. It is about getting on the plane and getting this done. There are over 100,000 jobs, Sarah, that rely on.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: To suggest we're not taking that seriously is completely disingenuous. The Prime Minister is working hard as is all our Government.
SARAH ABO: About Trump, but it turns out Malcolm Turnbull might be the one, the death knell here. I mean, honestly, former Prime Ministers just need to shut up. I mean, Julia Gillard comes to mind. Even Tony Abbott's been pretty quiet. All right, let's move on now because we are running out of time and Russia is warning of grave consequences if Australia contributes to an international peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Amanda, does the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, basically regret suggesting that we put boots on the ground there?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Look, let's be really clear. We have a long history as a country to contributing to international peacekeeping efforts. Now, a request has not come, but it would be ridiculous to rule out, if a request was to come, to not consider it. That is what we've said is we will consider a request if it comes. For Russia to overreact like this underlines its role often in bullying democracies.
SARAH ABO: You're not surprised by Russia's response though, are you, Amanda?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: I'm not surprised, but what I would say is that we have long played an important role in international peacekeeping. There isn't a request yet for that. But what the Prime Minister has said is we will consider it and that's a responsible thing to do.
SARAH ABO: Bridget is the flip side of this cowering to Russia, then if they are warning us not to be involved.
BRIDGETMCKENZIE: I think you've seen from the Prime Minister's reckless remarks around sending ADF troops on a peacekeeping mission where there is no peace into a war zone shows you just how inexperienced this guy is when it comes to international security. He has not received advice from the chief of Defence Force, the National Security Committee. We've sent bushmasters made here in Bendigo to Ukraine to support that effort. But it just highlights the Prime Minister's inexperience and Russia's obvious response.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Be bipartisan for once Bridget and support what’s in the national interest.
SARAH ABO: We can pick this up next week. Thank you for your time this morning.