Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Thanks very much for coming. I wanted to update you on a number of matters, a number of developments in relation to the conflict between Israel and Iran.
The Australian Government has directed the departure of all Australian officials and dependents, and we have suspended our operations in Tehran.
This is not a decision taken lightly. It is a decision based on the deteriorating security environment in Iran, a decision I directed after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister.
Everyone knows Australian diplomats care deeply about their work and no-one wishes to have that work disrupted. The government has a responsibility to ensure the safety of our staff. We do ask people to be in harm's way and we have to consider their safety very carefully.
More generally, we have a very volatile security situation in Iran. I am sure people know that we do not have to cast our minds back too far in history to understand the risk to foreign officials in Iran in times of unrest.
Australia's Ambassador to Iran will remain in the region to support the Australian Government’s response to the crisis. I can also indicate the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is deploying consular staff to Azerbaijan including its border crossing to support Australians departing Iran.
This security environment and its deterioration has led to the government updating the travel advice yesterday and again last night. Again, I say, we urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now if it is safe. Those who are not able to do so or who do not wish to leave are advised to shelter in place.
We are continuing planning to support Australians departing Iran and we remain in close contact with partner countries. Unfortunately, at this stage our ability to provide consular services is extremely limited due to the situation on the ground. The airspace remains closed.
In addition to the foreign affairs crisis response team deployed to assist the government’s efforts and support Australians seeking to leave the region, ADF personnel and aircraft are being deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation Beech 2025. Again, I emphasise the airspace remains closed, and we are doing this as part of preparing contingency plans post the airspace becoming open. I also emphasise we are sending defence assets to help Australians, they are not there for combat.
I can also indicate overnight I spoke with my American counterpart Secretary Marco Rubio, we had a good discussion. We had a good discussion about the way through this conflict and a good discussion about issues in the Australia-US relationship and our bilateral cooperation. I emphasise there is an opportunity given what President Trump has said, there is an opportunity over the next two weeks for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. That is what we want to see and that is what the world wants to see. Iran must come to the table and it must stop any nuclear weapons program. Happy to take questions.
Journalist: How much more difficult will it be for Australians to leave now that there is no consular assistance in Iran?
Foreign Minister: We are really conscious it is extremely difficult. I wish it were not so, I wish that we had more capacity to assist but the difficult reality is the situation on the ground is extremely unstable. The security situation is obviously very difficult. Again, I emphasise the airspace remains closed. What that means is we cannot fly aircraft in and out because of the security situation and because of the possibility of strikes. What we can do is what we have done, which is deploying consular staff to Azerbaijan, that is for Tehran, eight hours plus is the closest land crossing available, and we are doing that to assist Australians who get to the border.
Journalist: Can you provide an updated number on how many people are registered with DFAT?
Foreign Minister: We have 2000 people, Australians and their family, registered in Iran who wish to depart, we also have around 1200 in Israel who wish to depart.
Journalist: What contingency plans does the Government have if that de-escalation you spoke about doesn’t happen?
Foreign Minister: If the de-escalation?
Journalist: If de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East?
Foreign Minister: That is what we are seeking to do, we are putting people on the ground in Azerbaijan, we are involved in assisting Australians and providing advice to Australians in Israel. We had another bus overnight go to Jordan, I think some 38 people in addition to the small group the day before. Obviously it is a challenging situation on the ground. We will seek to provide and assist people to safety in the weeks and days to come. Obviously it is a difficult situation on the ground. What I would say in relation to passage to Jordan from Israel, I'm pleased that we had another group leave. I think with the Sabbath coming, it will make it more difficult over the next couple of days, but we hope to increase the number of people who are travelling out, if they wish to do so by bus to Jordan over the coming days.
Journalist: Are there Australians who are resisting getting on that bus?
Foreign Minister: Not everybody in country wishes to leave, that's why we ask people to register both presence, but also that they wish to leave.
Journalist: Are they indicating, though, that they would rather fly out once the airspace is open rather than bus out?
Foreign Minister: I think people know that the airspace is closed. There are missile strikes. There are strikes on civilian targets. We've seen a loss of life in both countries, and we've seen some awful, we've seen a strike on a hospital by Iran on an Israeli hospital, and we know that the situation is very challenging.
Journalist: What role does Secretary Rubio want Australia to play in this conflict?
Foreign Minister: We're not a central player, and as I said in the outset, our deployment is obviously to assist Australians and not for combat purposes. It's part of contingency arrangements being put in place.
Journalist: Donald Trump seems that he'll make a decision on strikes against Iran the next two weeks. If he does, could Australia then become involved in the military conflict?
Foreign Minister: As I've said previously, we're not a central player, and the deployment is for supporting people, not for combat purposes.
Journalist: Can you confirm whether you spoke with Secretary Rubio about the AUKUS agreement?
Foreign Minister: Yes, obviously that is one of the issues we talked about. We talked about the Indo-Pacific and the importance of our partnership to stability, peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. I've outlined, as you would expect, the benefits to all countries, all three countries of the AUKUS agreement, an agreement which I think is so important for strategic balance in the region, that means protecting peace, preventing conflict, and assuring prosperity and security for all countries. And AUKUS is a contribution to that. I've also outlined, just as the Prime Minister has, the near term benefits to the United States, including additional maintenance days and more days in the water for more submarines.
Journalist: Did he indicate whether the US would still support the AUKUS agreement?
Foreign Minister: Look, I think he is on record as understanding the importance of AUKUS but obviously we will work through the review with the United States, it is unsurprising that they would engage in a review just as the United Kingdom has.
Journalist: Did Secretary Rubio request military action from Australia if the US decides to proceed down that path?
Foreign Minister: No such request was made.
Journalist: Does the government intend to continue those diplomatic relations with Iran? And how do you continue those relations when the embassy is closed? Is it possible?
Foreign Minister: It is more challenging. And we've had a diplomatic relationship with Iran, I think, since about 1968 from memory. And it's obviously for much of that time, or some of that time being with a regime that we have very different views about and with. But we have always believed that you don't just have diplomatic relationships with people with whom you agree, because you have to have the capacity for dialogue. And that is important. And you see it at this time, it is important that we have dialogue and diplomacy. Obviously it does create logistical problems or challenges, because we won't have, at this stage, don't have an embassy operating, and we'll see in the future, if we're able to reopen. I hope we are able to.
Journalist: You mentioned that there's ADF personnel in Azerbaijan?
Foreign Minister: No, that is DFAT personnel.
Journalist: Whereabouts are they?
Foreign Minister: Well, we are in the process of getting a crisis response team into Azerbaijan, and the purpose is to assist any Australians who get to that border. That is the border crossing that is the most likely for exit from Tehran.
Journalist: What concerns does the government have that the US may drop a bunker busting bomb in Iran?
Foreign Minister: These are matters that the US will make decisions about. I can only articulate what Australia's position has been. We want dialogue, diplomacy, and we want de-escalation, and we want Iran to return to the table. We want Iran to stop any nuclear weapons program. That's the call we've made. And that's the call many other countries have made. Iran has the opportunity, the President's actually given them the opportunity to engage in diplomacy and they should take it.
Journalist: How likely do you think it is that Iran will return to the table?
Foreign Minister: I'll leave you to do the commentary, how about that? I can only indicate what Australia's position is.
Journalist: Just got one question on age verification of social media companies. How promising is it that the new report declares that age verification can be done by these companies, that a path to an under 16s ban can happen?
Foreign Minister: Look, it's obviously a very promising report, and this is a policy area that the government has been very forward leaning on, and I'm sure Minister Wells will implement it very effectively. Thank you very much.