Journalist: Were you watching early in the morning as it happened?
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Look this meeting was a great success. The US President, President Trump, was clear he loves Australia, he backed in the AUKUS agreement and the delivery of the submarines, which is so important to Australia's capability, and the Prime Minister and the President inked a $8.5 billion critical minerals deal. So a good meeting for the country.
Journalist: How much effort went into preparing for this deal, preparing just even for the personal dynamics of meeting the President?
Foreign Minister:: Oh look, enormous amount of work and effort has gone into this, including particularly by Ambassador Rudd, but particularly on the critical minerals deal and AUKUS. But what I would say is this, it affirms the calm, mature approach that the Government has taken.
Journalist: Should Ambassador Rudd stay in the role, given what happened in the room, it seemed that the US President wasn't particularly familiar with him and the Coalition now say he's got, you know, he should be moved on?
Foreign Minister:: Well, just for once, maybe the Coalition could back in the national interest, you know, break the habit of a lifetime.
Journalist: Also on the incident on Monday as well, involving the Chinese fighter jet – at what level were the representations made between the Australian Government and the Chinese government?
Foreign Minister: Well, we make representations through our embassy in Beijing and also here in Australia. But I would say what the Deputy Prime Minister said yesterday, these actions were unsafe and they were unprofessional. We regard the safety of our personnel as of the highest importance. We will continue to assert our rights under international law in terms of freedom of overflight and freedom of navigation.
Journalist: Have you or any other ministers picked up the phone to Beijing?
Foreign Minister: We will, we always make representations at the appropriate level. Thank you.