Transcript of doorstop interview

Subjects: Announcement of the 25th AUSMIN Conference to be held in Melbourne.

Canberra

Transcript, E&OE

23 October 2010

KEVIN RUDD: The 25th AUSMIN will be held in Melbourne and the Australian Government is pleased that we are going to host this important event, involving of course the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and Secretary of Defence, Bob Gates. This will be the 25th AUSMIN, the 25th annual occasion in which the Australian and American defence minister and foreign ministers have met as AUSMIN. It's an important anniversary therefore.

It's also the 70th anniversary of the Australia US diplomatic relationship. This is the year of anniversaries as well. This is the number one strategic relationship for Australia, that is, with America. It's also the number one forum in which we gather as Americans and as Australians to engage commonly in the challenges strategically in the Asia Pacific region and worldwide.

We're particularly pleased that this event's going to be held in Melbourne. I know the Prime Minister's particularly pleased. She's looking forward to having dinner with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defence at Government House in Melbourne. Melbourne's a fantastic city, a fantastic showcase for Australia. It's also I know as a matter of historical importance that when Douglas MacArthur left the Philippines in 1941-42, he went to Melbourne to begin the conduct of the Pacific campaign against Japan in World War II.

So from the darkest days of World War II, through to the present, the Australia US strategic relationship remains strong and will continue to be strong into the future.

Over to you folks.

QUESTION: What do you think the main agenda on — the main sort of item on the agenda will be in terms of your discussions with Secretary Clinton?

KEVIN RUDD: Well we are allies. And therefore the strength of this relationship, which is that we cover anything and everything which is current on the regional and global agenda. And obviously we have continued security challenges in Afghanistan, that is plain for everyone to see. There are wider challenges in the Middle East. There are challenges, which we need to address for the future of the Asia Pacific region. That includes evolving the future strategic architecture of the Asia Pacific region, the emergence of the East Asian Summit. There's going to be plenty to discuss in this forum, as well as the intrinsics of the defence to defence relationship where Defence Minister Stephen Smith of course will be taking the lead.

QUESTION: Can I just ask you as well Mr Rudd on Afghanistan? The Muslim group, Hizb ut-Tahrir, has put out a statement saying that our troops are merely cannon fodder for the US over there. It sounds like they're sort of bringing down the value in the work that they're doing. What's your response to that and do you think it's offensive to the families of fallen diggers?

KEVIN RUDD: Well the bottom line is our men and women in uniform in Afghanistan are doing a fantastic job. I've been there many times. It's difficult, hard and dangerous work. It is real work in the province of Uruzgan. The province of Uruzgan has been one of the most hard fought over, least developed provinces of Afghanistan and it's where we've made a fundamental difference on the ground because of our efforts there. We therefore don't represent the interests of anybody else. We're there as part of an allied team, made up of more than 30 and 40 different countries, with a common purpose, which is, one, to deny Afghanistan its future strategic base for operations for Al Qaeda. Number two, to train the Afghan National Army so that they can take on a security role for, not just the province of Afghanistan, but in other provinces by other countries, security roles there as well. And number three, to invest in sufficient development, in health and education and basic infrastructure to help build a viable Afghan state. We are there for those reasons. We're also there because we're strong allies of the United States.

QUESTION: How significant is it that two senior Obama cabinet ministers are coming over and will security be increased to the same level as if the president was coming over?

KEVIN RUDD: Well as a matter of general course we don't discuss security protection arrangements and that is for reasons which are self evident. All I can say is the Australian Government is responsible for security for these very welcome foreign visitors, as we are responsible for visits to Australia by other senior foreign leaders as well.

For the visit to Australia, it's a good time. It's a good occasion. Hillary Clinton is well known in Australia. Bob Gates is as well. Hillary's been to Australia before and we look forward to spending some time with her on this occasion.

QUESTION: Can I ask you about Schappelle Corby's clemency bid? What are you hearing or reading in the rhetoric coming out of Indonesia and will you make representations before the Government makes representations?

KEVIN RUDD: Well the first thing as far as Schappelle Corby is concerned is that in various capacities in recent years and in recent times, I've made representations to the Indonesian Government, most recently in New York with my foreign minister counterpart, the Foreign Minister of Indonesia.

Secondly, the question of clemency however is a matter for the Indonesian Government and it does not help the case one bit for us to begin to characterise publicly responses by the Indonesian Government. Therefore representations have been made, representations continue to be made and — but this is a matter for the Indonesians and it's entirely a discretionary matter for the Indonesian president.

QUESTION: Do you think you still would have won the 2007 election if Peter Costello was leader of the Liberal Party?

KEVIN RUDD: I don't propose to revisit any of — recent events. And as far as Mr Howard and Mr Costello are concerned, I'll leave it to them.

QUESTION: Did Joe Hockey have a point Mr Rudd when he said that the banks have a social obligation, in the sense that they're effectively being underwritten by taxpayers in terms of the risks that they face to some extent?

KEVIN RUDD: On interest rates policy these are questions best directed to the Treasurer.

I would say however this, that any credible opposition I would have thought would have known what 101 is when it comes to the monetary policy of Australia. And the monetary policy of all advanced states worldwide.

Anyone who puts themself up to be the alternative treasurer of Australia frankly should know better.

QUESTION: Will you be buying a copy of Mr Howard's book at all?

KEVIN RUDD: I'll leave that to Mr Howard and Mr Costello and I'm sure between them they'll boost sales.

QUESTION: During the AUSMIN meeting will you be discussing perhaps a possible itinerary for President Obama when he comes here next year?

KEVIN RUDD: We are still settling questions of itinerary. Of course President Obama will be a welcome guest in Australia at any time and — but these things will be sorted out in due course, consistent with what is a very crowded itinerary for him. Remember there are midterms looming in the United States. There are other challenges on the US Congressional and just domestic political agenda as well. As I said in Washington however, we're out to show Hillary and Bob a good time in Australia and it's Melbourne so we'll show them a really good time.

QUESTION: Do you think they'll buy a copy of the John Howard book?

KEVIN RUDD: [laughs] Well done [indistinct].

QUESTION: Will Mr Clinton…

KEVIN RUDD: You can do better than that. sorry, after you.

QUESTION: Will former president, Bill Clinton, be accompanying…

KEVIN RUDD: Based on my last conversations with Hillary, no. I think Bill has other things on right now.

END

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