Natalie Barr, Host: Joining us now is Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Good morning to you. There are thousands of Australians in L.A. right now, our journalists are being tear gassed and actually shot at. How much does this concern you?
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good morning. Good to be with you. Well, obviously, we've all seen the images and we were all very distressed to see what occurred with an Australian journalist. Journalists should be allowed to do their job, be free to do their job safely. But obviously I'm not in a position to comment on the domestic circumstances. What I would say is Australians in the area should obviously avoid the protest area and listen to the instructions from authorities.
Barr: So, protests are spreading to multiple American cities. Right now our Smartraveller advice for the US currently remains at green. Will you consider updating that advice?
Foreign Minister: Look, we always keep travel advice under consideration and we are very careful in how we go about looking at events on the ground and considering whether or not any travel advice change is required. I simply would say people should be aware of what is occurring and make sure that they avoid protest areas.
Barr: Ok, moving on now. Australia, alongside our allies, has this morning levelled sanctions against two Israeli Ministers for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Will this impact our position on the conflict?
Foreign Minister: Look, we have not taken this decision lightly. This is a decision we have made after a long process of deliberation and consideration, and that we are taking in conjunction with other partners with the United Kingdom, with New Zealand, with Canada and of course, with Norway. And we're doing that because we are all deeply concerned about the extremist settler enterprise of the Netanyahu Government. And why are we concerned about that now? We're concerned about it because it is undermining the prospects of two states. And ultimately, we, along with those other countries and the broader international community, believe we can only see peace in the Middle East when we deal with two states and when both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security.
Barr: Just before we go, we know the PM is going to soon meet with US President Trump to discuss trade and tariffs. What do you think is the best way to cut a deal? Will critical minerals be a key to that negotiation?
Foreign Minister: Look, we have enormous assets of critical minerals resources, and you heard the Prime Minister speak about that during the election campaign and also yesterday at the Press Club. But I want to make this point. You know, we will always act in our national interest. We're not going to do any deal and we will continue to engage with the Trump administration in good faith. But very clearly that we believe that the tariffs that have been imposed on us are not the act of a friend and ultimately will harm the American consumer.
Barr: Ok. Good luck out there. Thank you very much, Penny Wong.
Foreign Minister: Good to speak with you.