Penny Wong, Foreign Minster: Thanks very much for coming. It's such a great pleasure to be back here in New Delhi, and I'm really looking forward to my discussions with my friend Dr Jaishankar today. So I think it's our 26th in-person meeting, which says something about how much importance we place on this relationship. But if I can make some general comments about the Australia-India partnership, it's really never been closer, nor more consequential in a world that is sharper and more competitive. It's a relationship that's crucial to Australia and we believe crucial to the region. We're Comprehensive Strategic Partners, and we both share a vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. We want to leverage our partnership for the benefit of both our countries and all our peoples, and we want to leverage our relationship to the benefit of the region – using all the tools at our disposal, bilateral, through the Quad and other minilaterals and through multilateral institutions. India is a leading power in the region and in the world, the most populous economy, the fastest growing large economy, and Australia and India's strategic convergence is strengthening. So what I would say is this, in these times, where we see the reshaping of our region, where we see greater uncertainty, what I say to our Indian friends is Australia is a reliable partner. We are a reliable partner. We've got deepening economic ties, including through our negotiations for an ambitious new Free Trade Agreement, but also our existing arrangements, with a multitude of connections between our peoples at the heart of our relationship. And we are so benefited by the million Indian-Australians in our country who make such a contribution to Australian society. So as we grapple with a world that is more uncertain, trusted strategic partners have to come together to chart the way forward and how we best shape the future of the region for our people, and that is precisely what I will be working to do today with Dr Jaishankar. If I can go to another matter, which is an issue that has had a reasonable amount of focus in Australia, and that is Russian oil. Australia has imposed very strict sanctions and other trade measures, along with our partners and allies, to restrict the import, purchase and transport of oil coming from, or that originated in Russia. And why have we done that? Because we have a very clear view that we do not want to contribute to the Russian war machine, that we think the war in Ukraine is both illegal and immoral and contrary to global interests and our national interests. I want to – I've said previously, in addition to those sanctions, that Australians do expect businesses to prevent their supply chains from inadvertently funding Russia's conflict against Ukraine, and we have asked businesses to uphold that responsibility. So in that context, can I acknowledge the positive engagement with Reliance Industries and acknowledge the steps they have announced that they are taking to address the concerns the Australian Government, indeed the Australian people have raised. As I understand the announcement that they are determined they will, they will no longer receive shipments of Russian oil into the Jamnagar refinery. And we are very pleased at these steps, and we thank Reliance for not only these measures, but also their positive engagement at this stage. Reliance is the largest source of Indian oil and exports to Australia. I'm happy to take questions.
Journalist: What do you anticipate Dr Jaishankar's response is going to be today about Australia putting pressure not to purchase Russian oil from India?
Foreign Minster: Look, we understand that India has its relationship with Russia. We have been very clear and upfront as strategic partners about Australia's view on the conflict in Ukraine, and we have been public and transparent about the sanctions we apply to Russian oil.
Journalist: How concerned are you, though, obviously, Dr Jaishankar before meeting with you, was in Moscow this week, meeting with Sergey Lavrov and Vladimir Putin. We've also heard news this week that Russia has proposed to manufacture its fifth-gen stealth fighter jets here in India and share that technology. So how concerned are you about just how close that relationship is becoming?
Foreign Minster: We recognise that India's relationship with Russia is a longstanding relationship. India has its national interests and makes its choices. So does Australia, and we've made our national interests and choices very clear when it comes to Russia.
Journalist: Just on Russia, what can you tell us about the Russian cyber crime networks that Australia sanctioned today?
Foreign Minster: Well, we have issued further sanctions earlier this week. Earlier this week, yes, sorry, earlier this week, it continues with the approach we are taking to seek to sanction where we are able to attribute in the cyber space. And on this occasion, we've sanctioned a number of, a couple of entities that we know have been responsible for cyber intrusions. We often do this in partnership with other countries. It's important that those norms and cyber safety are set in the international sphere.
Journalist: Do we know what Australian businesses or institutions were targeted by these groups?
Foreign Minster: I'm not in a position to outline all of those details. What I would say is that our authorities engage very closely with the private sector. We know that cyber resilience is not, not just government, you know, doing things after the fact, it is building the resilience across our institutions and the private sector. This is central to our democratic resilience, and are working very hard.
Journalist: I've got a couple of other matters if that's okay. At the same time you're here, Afghanistan's de facto Commerce and Industry Minister is also here. India is also, you know, wanting to open up its embassy in Kabul. In recent weeks, special representatives from the US and the UK have also met Taliban ministers. Given these developments and the fact that several of Australia's key partners are now engaging directly with the Taliban, is Australia reconsidering its own policy or approach?
Foreign Minster: No, we don't have any intention of recognising the Taliban.
Journalist: India was expected to host the Quad Leaders' Summit at some time this year. Obviously that hasn't happened. How concerned are you for the future of that group?
Foreign Minster: First, I'd make the point we have met as the Quad at Foreign Minister level, no less than twice this year, and that demonstrates the importance that all four countries place upon that grouping. As I've said previously, it's a grouping which contributes to the stability of the region. It's a grouping which also invests in public goods in the region. And you can see that from some of the initiatives over the years. We welcome the prospect of a leaders' meeting next year. We hope that can be arranged when leaders are available.
Journalist: You've worked on the Australia-India relationship for quite some time. Does it surprise you the approach that the Trump White House has taken to India over the course this year? It seems like they've been at loggerheads more than there's been cooperation.
Foreign Minster: I know there is an ongoing negotiation between the Trump administration and the government of Prime Minister Modi, particularly in relation to trade. Obviously, Australia has made its position on trade very clear. We don't believe in tariffs. We have expressed our view about tariffs very clearly. We see there is great benefit economically, but also as a contribution to peace, to have that shared economic engagement, and we'll continue to hold that position. Obviously, the matters for negotiation between the Trump administration, President Trump's administration and Prime Minister Modi's government are a matter for those two governments.
Journalist: Does it surprise you the approach that this White House has taken to India, given the multi-year effort that has been made to build ties between India and the West?
Foreign Minster: Well what I'd say is any, in any future where the Indo-Pacific remains peaceful, stable and prosperous, India has to play a central role, as does the United States.
Journalist: Minister, PNG's Foreign Minister says Pacific leaders are very disappointed by this COP compromise between Australia and Türkiye. Can Australia genuinely say that it did everything possible to secure the event, especially given reports that cabinet was split about whether to keep pushing?
Foreign Minster: We absolutely put all we could into this bid, and I want to thank Pacific, our Pacific friends, both at my level, our Climate Change Minister, but also leader, leader level, for all the work they did to really elevate the concerns of the Pacific in these multilateral negotiations. It was really impressive. And when I spoke to a number of my Pacific counterparts, I made that point that the diplomatic effort from the Pacific has been, has been extraordinary, and we're very grateful for their support. And the Pacific family really pressed for it. As you know, Türkiye had a very strong view about their right to host. We believe we have a great deal of support for our position. Türkiye has, however, taken a different view. What I have said over a number of weeks now is that what the first priority for Australia is, and the first priority has been, how do we elevate Pacific voices, how do we bring leaders and officials to the Pacific, how do we make sure that the issues that the Pacific care about are on the COP agenda, and the sort of compromise that is being worked through does that precisely. And I want to emphasise how much discussion we will continue to engage in with the Pacific both through Mr Bowen, Chris is doing a great job in Belém, the Prime Minister, and I.
Journalist: How is Australia going to make this unprecedented COP Presidency arrangement work? Is there a risk that splitting this presidency from the host country could weaken global momentum or dilute Australia's ability to push or drive higher ambition?
Foreign Minster: Well, as I explained previously, if we have, if we don't have an agreed outcome, the risk is that this conference goes to Bonn with no Pacific involvement and with very little Australian involvement. So that is not an outcome that's good for Australia, and that's not an outcome that is good for the Pacific. So we are looking at what are the features of an arrangement which would enable Pacific concerns, Pacific priorities, alongside Australian priorities, to be central in these discussions. And obviously that's being worked through still. Thank you.