Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: We now have about 3,600 Australians who have returned home. We just had in the last hour or so a flight land in Melbourne from Doha, so that is a really good thing. The advice to me from airlines and airports is the majority of those Australians who were in transit and caught in transit have returned home. I would speak to the Australians, the expats who live in the Middle East: our view, our advice is if you can secure a seat on a commercial flight, you should take it. Please do not wait until it is too late. There are regular, although limited, commercial flights available. It is always possible if the conflict continues to escalate that they become no longer available. Happy to take some questions.
Journalist: Senator Wong, would you consider getting the antisemitism royal commission back on track by making Dennis Richardson a co-commissioner?
Foreign Minister: I think Mr Richardson has made his decision. I think he did media today to explain it, and he also expressed confidence in the Royal Commission and its capacity to get the answers we all want. There was a horrific antisemitic attack. We need to make sure we understand what more we need to do to confront antisemitism.
Journalist: Will the international release of oil stocks bring petrol prices down?
Foreign Minister: As this conflict continues to widen and escalate, there's obviously an effect on global liquid fuel markets. We've seen that. The U.S. President has spoken about that. The Prime Minister and the Minister have spoken about that. We will continue to work through the implications for Australia of this in a sensible and ordered way.
Journalist: Minister, will Australia back the call made by the IEA to release those reserves?
Foreign Minister: I've seen that, and this is a step which emphasises that the world's economies are seeking to work together to manage this situation. I spoke to the Saudi Foreign Minister just before I came up to do this interview, and he informed me of the work the Saudis are doing on their east-west pipeline to try and add to global supply. So I think countries are working through this. There is obviously an impact. As you know, the Strait of Hormuz has about 20 per cent of the world's fuel transits through there.
Journalist: Minister, you constantly talk about the importance of international law. You've now supported two attacks on Iran and an attack on Venezuela that experts say are illegal. Why should people take you seriously when you use that rhetoric in the future?
Foreign Minister: Well, there's a lot in that question with which I don't agree.
Journalist: What don't you agree with?
Foreign Minister: Quite a lot of it, but that's up to you. What I would say to you is we have made very clear, and I've been very transparent with you and with the Australian people about the basis of our support for the objectives of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and preventing Iran from being a threat to international peace and security. And I've also been clear, as has the Prime Minister, that our judgment about the safety and security of Australians informs the parameters of our engagement. And from day one I've made clear our view on the challenges around regime change and why that is unlikely to be able to be imposed from outside.
Journalist: Is the government considering fuel rationing and at what point would that be in consideration?
Foreign Minister: We are still receiving fuel as prior to the crisis. It is true, we have seen people reacting, and I understand why Australians have seen what is happening and are responding, but it is very important that we all work through this very methodically. Minister Bowen is doing so. You saw yesterday the Treasurer announced greater penalties for price gouging of consumers, for which there is no excuse.
Journalist: Minister, just on the Iranian football team, obviously we've seen one of those women change their mind. Are you aware of any more who perhaps might change their mind in any–
Foreign Minister: I'm sorry, it's not something I'm going to comment on further.
Journalist: Senator, one more on the U.S. request in Iran. Richard Marles says that, confirmed that we have received requests from the U.S., Richard Marles says so. When did we receive them, what did they ask for and have we left our closest ally hanging on that or have we answered that call?
Foreign Minister: I made clear on Sunday that we had received multiple requests and we were working through them and that we would work through them on the basis of the objectives that I had outlined in that interview and the Prime Minister had outlined earlier in the week, and that went to the parameters of what we would provide. We are providing defensive capability, not offensive. We're not going to broadcast all aspects of requests. That would not be a sensible thing to do in the middle of a conflict. But we have engaged with partners about the request we have responded to, which is the request of the United Arab Emirates. Thanks very much.
Journalist: Have you responded to the U.S. request?
Foreign Minister: Well of course we engage with the U.S., but the request we have responded to is the United Arab Emirates. Thank you very much.