Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Can I say what an honour it is to welcome Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale to Australia. I met with him yesterday and he will be meeting with the Prime Minister today along with members of the Cabinet and I also welcome my counterpart Minister Hou. Solomon Islands is a very important partner for Australia. It's a very important part of the Pacific Islands Forum and we are very honoured to welcome Prime Minister Wale here to discuss how we might strengthen our relationship further. We know he comes to the job with a great deal of ambition. He comes to the job with very clear plans for his country and we want to work with him in the interests of both Solomon Islanders and also Australians. Happy to take questions.
Journalist: The Solomons in the past has been a contentious nation when it comes to the strategic battle. Are you hoping to sign any new deals in the coming year with the new Prime Minister?
Foreign Minister: We will be led by Prime Minister Wale and his government's priorities, and what we have made clear to him is that we are open to further strengthening our relationship. Ultimately, we will be led by their democratic government in how they might want to approach the strengthening of our relationship.
Journalist: I'm sorry, national accounts out today. Is anything with a 2%, a two in front of it, is that a pass park?
Foreign Minister: I don't think I'll comment on national accounts ahead of them, but what I would say is we had a very good figure yesterday, a very important figure for Australians on low wages, and that was an increase in the minimum wage. The Labor Government supports increases to the minimum wage that the Fair Work Commission puts in place, unlike Mr Taylor and the Coalition and unlike Ms Pauline Hanson.
Journalist: Are there other MPs within caucus that share Husic's views that we need to rethink AUKUS?
Foreign Minister: Can I be clear about why AUKUS matters? AUKUS is about delivering a capability the country needs and I think you only need to look at the world in which we live to understand that capability equals deterrence and deterrence is necessary to assure the peace. This is an important project and it's a project the Government's determined to deliver.
Journalist: But are there MPs that are worried?
Foreign Minister: What I'd say is Mr Husic is entitled to his view. The Government has a very clear view and we don't believe chopping and changing at this stage is in the national interest.
Journalist: The opposition has argued that having someone who is a former minister come out publicly criticising AUKUS could be detrimental for our relationship with other countries like the US, the UK. Do they have a point?
Foreign Minister: Well, what's detrimental for our relationships with other countries, we saw in the Pacific with the behaviour of Mr Morrison and our Liberal predecessors. And Australia's position in the Pacific, which goes directly to our stability and our national security, was undermined by their behaviour. We are clear about the Government's position on AUKUS, and we have been clear about it from day one.
Journalist: Are you concerned, Minister Wong, that there isn't a plan B for AUKUS, given we have seen a change? Can Australians expect more changes and will your government communicate with us?
Foreign Minister: The plan is a very clear plan and it's about ensuring that we replace the capability that we need and we are absolutely committed to ensuring that we work with the United States and with the United Kingdom to deal with both the capability gap that was bequeathed to us by the Morrison and other governments, and acquire the new capability.
Journalist: Minister, sending Australians to Poland to train Ukrainian troops as part of its Operation Interflex, how significant is that? Does this signal an uptick in support for Ukraine in the war?
Foreign Minister: We have been participating in supporting the training delivered to Ukrainians with other partners for some time and we'll continue to do that. Why are we doing that? We're doing that because this is a war that is unethical, that is contrary to international law, and we recognise that we need to work to protect Ukrainian sovereignty.
Journalist: Minister, you mentioned the minimum wage decision. AMP is forecasting it will push inflation and interest rates up. Are you concerned by that forecast?
Foreign Minister: What I would say is out there Australians are struggling with the cost of living. So increasing the minimum wage helps people deal with those increases in cost of living that we have seen, in particular because of the inflation that is derived from the Middle East conflict. Thank you.