Natalie Barr, Host: Joining us now is the Foreign Minister, Penny Wong. Good morning to you. Tell us what happens now and who do you believe is the best person to take over?
Penny Wong, Foreign minister: Good morning Nat, good to be with you. Obviously this is a pretty difficult situation in the Middle East. We see conflict, we see casualties. What I would say is this, we know that Iran has been a destabilising force internationally, we know they sponsored terrorism, we know that they have been seeking to develop a nuclear program. And so this is why the Australian Government has supported action to ensure Iran does not achieve nuclear capability. In terms of regime change, which is your question, ultimately this rests in the hands of the Iranian people – they must decide their destiny.
Barr: Yes, we've heard the US President say that. But when regimes fall, terror can take its place. We've seen this in Iraq, in Syria, in Afghanistan, to name a few. How do we make sure this action doesn't give rise to the next ISIS?
Foreign minister: That is a very good question, Nat. And you're right that what history does show us is that when countries have sought to impose regime change, that has not been sustainable and that has not lasted. Which is why Australia, which obviously we're not central to these issues, but what we have said is the Iranian people must determine their own destinies, they must make the decision about the future of their country.
Barr: Well, do you think they can do that?
Foreign minister: It's a very challenging situation. You know, we have a regime which has brutalised its people, which has murdered its own people in order to maintain authority. Clearly not legitimate. And now we have conflict in the Middle East, we have casualties, we have lives lost. And we know that we also have Australians who are in the region. So, my focus and my first priority is to do all that we can as a government in these very difficult circumstances to provide the information and to support as best we can, Australians in the region.
Barr: Okay we hear you're setting up a portal where people can register. The Brits, we hear this morning have got maybe 70,000 people. They're thinking of bussing through the desert to get out. What's Australia thinking of doing?
Foreign minister: We have about 115,000 people in the region. And you would know, all of us who've flown internationally, how many Australians or people on flights in and out of Australia go through the region. It's about 11,000 a day, in and out of Australia. It gives you a sense of the scale of it. So, you're right we have set up a portal which will be available to people in Iran, in Israel, in Qatar and the UAE. And people will be able to get the most up-to-date information we have. They will also be able to register. And I would encourage people, if they need assistance or if they need that information, to make sure they register so we can track people. The fastest way, and I can say this now as the Foreign Minister who has been in this job when we've had a few crises, the fastest way we can try to get people home is if commercial flights recommence. That's where you get the volume and the scale. And we hope that we will see that in the coming days and weeks.
Barr: Okay, but at the moment the airspaces are closed?
Foreign minister: Correct.
Barr: So we'll check back in with you. Thank you very much Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Foreign minister: Good to speak with you Nat.