Sarah Abo, Host: We are joined now by Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Senator, thanks so much for your time. I know a lot's been going on. This was a significant escalation by the US and Israel. What went wrong with the negotiations to get to this point? Did you have any advance warning that this was going to happen?
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good morning. Good to be with you, Sarah. And yes, this is a very substantial escalation. We've seen loss of life in a number of countries in the region. It is very clear that the US has been seeking for some time to negotiate a resolution in relation to Iran's nuclear program with the Iranian leadership. We have seen that play out publicly. President Trump has spoken About it. My counterpart, Secretary Rubio, has spoken About it. However, what appears to have occurred is that there has not been a satisfactory resolution to the risk that Iran poses should it acquire a nuclear capability. And so for that reason, Australia supports the action taken to ensure Iran does not achieve such capability.
Abo: Yes. And look, no one's going to mourn the Supreme Leader, as the Prime Minister said. But we're talking About a brutal and bloody regime here that's murdered its own citizens. It has suppressed them for decades. As you know, Senator, this is a complex system as well that's in Iran. I mean, its ideology penetrates not just the leadership, but the ideology, of course, goes into the judiciary and the military. So, how can you ensure in any way, with any confidence, that whoever replaces the Ayatollah will actually be better than him?
Foreign Minister: What I have said, and the Prime Minister has said, is that ultimately, the future of Iran is in the hands of the Iranian people. We know that for a country to determine its destiny, its people must ultimately decide that destiny. It cannot be externally imposed. You are right, though. This is a regime that has brutalised its own people, that has sought to maintain authority by killing its own people, therefore has no legitimacy. But ultimately, the future of Iran has to be in the hands of the Iranian people.
Abo: But how can you say that, though, Senator? I mean, hope alone isn't going to get them through this. As we know, thousands have been killed in the uprisings that we've seen. So, that would suggest that they don't have much in the way of means to get ahead of and topple this regime and its ideology. So, they're going to need a lot more help on the ground and broadly from the global powers for months and possibly years.
Foreign Minister: There is a long way to go in this. And what we do know is first, that action has been taken which Australia supports to ensure Iran's nuclear program does not continue. Because as you say, Iran has been a destabilising force in the world for a long time. It has sponsored terrorism, it has directed attacks on our soil. The point I'm making is that for there to be a regime change, for there to be a change in the government of Iran, and ultimately that has to be a matter for the people of Iran, because we know from history that we cannot externally impose regime change sustainably unless the people make a decision.
Abo: You've mentioned there, of course, the Ayatollah, I mean, Iran broadly is sort of the puppet master when it comes to the Middle Eastern conflicts more broadly across the globe. So, when it comes to supporting the new regime, whatever comes in its place, will Australia support the US and Israel with troops on the ground, whether it's in Iran or in the Gulf more broadly?
Foreign Minister: I think the President has made clear that's not his intention to engage in the sort of actions that you're describing. I think his focus has been very much on what you'll see, the strategy that you're seeing play out. And in any event, I think your question sort of skips a long way ahead, Sarah.
Abo: Well, we know that this is just going to take a long time for any kind of peace to be brought to the region. So, that's why I asked the question.
Foreign Minister: Sure, and we all want peace in the region. And what I would say is obviously Australia's not central to the issues in the Middle East. We didn't participate in these strikes and we wouldn't anticipate participating in the future.
Abo: Alright, onto the Australians who are stranded right across the Middle East at the moment. We know that there's airspace chaos. It's going to be very difficult, of course, to get them out of there. Beyond the advice not to travel, what is the Australian Government's ability in terms of trying to get Australians out of there safely and what warnings are you offering or what advice you're offering them for being on the ground at the moment?
Foreign Minister: Thanks for asking because I know how many Australians are worried either because they are in the Middle East or they have family in the Middle East. We have About 115,000 Australians in the region. That is a lot of Australians. Your viewers would know this area is also an international hub. We have About 11,000 people going in and out of Australia via the hubs in the Middle East so Qatar, Doha and Dubai. That gives you some sense of the scale of the disruption. What I have done today is to add the UAE and Qatar to the countries from where we are taking registrations so that will occur later today. We started yesterday with Iran and Israel and today we will add the UAE and Qatar. That will enable Australians to get access to timely information, the best that we have, and to register with us. But Sarah, the numbers and the situation obviously means that at this point our capacity to provide much assistance is limited. What we are hoping is that we will see more commercial flights available which will be the fastest way to get people home.
Abo: Alright Senator, thanks so much for joining us this morning.