Karl Stefanovic, Host: A lot going on both here and abroad this morning, and for more, I'm joined by Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, live in Canberra. Penny, good morning. Lovely to see you this morning and that big smile on your face, it must be because Australia is heading to the World Cup.
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: The World Cup, isn't it wonderful? Congratulations to the Socceroos, a great result. And I hope this encourages kids around Australia to get into soccer, we're a soccer family and spend a lot of our weekends watching and playing soccer. So, it's fantastic.
Stefanovic: Okay, let's head to LA now. 40,000 Aussies live in LA. How worried are you about the unrest there?
Foreign Minister: Well, obviously it's deeply troubling and we've seen a lot of really concerning images. I won't comment on the domestic policies, but I would say to Australians, please avoid the protest area and please listen to the instructions and news from the authorities and stay safe.
Stefanovic: Are you worried about it spreading?
Foreign Minister: Well, I'm not going to get into the speculation about that, but I would say please stay safe and avoid protests.
Stefanovic: Okay, what form has our complaint about Lauren Tomasi to the US taken?
Foreign Minister: Well, Karl, can I first say how it's good to see that Lauren is in good shape and she's okay, and how awful it was, that image, that footage of it was really awful. And you've heard the Prime Minister's response. We've made the appropriate representations, and I'm very conscious also that we should handle this in the way Lauren is comfortable with. We obviously have reached out through the Consulate General in Los Angeles and stand ready to provide any assistance she needs. But more generally, Australia believes in a free media and journalists should be able to do their job safely.
Stefanovic: Hear-hear. Will Albo raise it before or during the meeting with Donald Trump?
Foreign Minister: Look, I think he answered that yesterday. And, you know, he doesn't, wouldn't telegraph these sorts of things ahead of the discussion. But please be assured that we have acted through all the appropriate diplomatic channels. And as I said, I'm glad that she is now, she's safe and we want to deal with this in the way that she wants.
Stefanovic: I mean, at the end of the day, you have to stand up for Australia in whatever capacity is needed. The tariffs are clearly the main game here. Is Albo getting ready for anything that could happen in that meeting?
Foreign Minister: Well I think Albo's pretty good at handling, the Prime Minister's pretty good at handling meetings. He's had a lot of experience, not just as Prime Minister but as a senior Minister for a very long time. Look, we don't agree with the President Trump's administration on tariffs. We've made that clear. We think it's not consistent with our free trade agreement. We don't think it's in the interests of American consumers. We think it's an act of economic self-harm. We've made that clear publicly, consistently, and we will continue to do so.
Stefanovic: He's left the door open for spending more on defence. Is that going to be a bargaining chip?
Foreign Minister: I think you're asking me to speculate on the meeting and I won't do that. But look, we will always do, we'll always do what is required to keep Australians safe. That's what the government will do. We've invested more money in defence over the next few years, and over the ten. We are continuing to work on the AUKUS pathway because that capability is important for Australia to acquire new submarines. We are very aware of the circumstances Australia faces, and in part that is also my job. A great part of my job is to work with other countries because those relationships contribute to stability and security in our region, which is where our stability, security and ultimately our prosperity come from.
Stefanovic: Just finally, Israel is reacting pretty strongly to your sanctions on two Israeli ministers. Are you worried about blowback there?
Foreign Minister: I understand that they are, you know, their reaction. We are concerned alongside the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and others about the unlawful and violent settlement enterprise in the West Bank. That is not consistent with two states. We believe, like the international community and our partners, that two states is the best chance for peace in the Middle East and peace and security for Israelis.
Stefanovic: Penny Wong, always good to talk to you.
Foreign Minister: Great to speak with you.