Monique Wright, Host: In a major escalation in its war against Hamas, Israel has launched strikes against terror group leaders who were in Qatar's capital Doha. The Hamas leadership team was in the country to consider a US proposed ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, but Israel says the attack was justified in response to a shooting in Jerusalem that killed six people. For more, we're joined now by Foreign Minister Penny Wong who is live in Adelaide. Good morning to you, Senator. Thanks so much for being with us. We just want to get your reaction to this. There has been pretty well widespread condemnation about it. How concerned are you about this escalation of tensions?
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good morning Monique, good to be with you. We don't think this was the right thing to do. It's a strike that violates Qatar's sovereignty, it undermines or potentially damages the possibility of ceasefire and the release of hostages, and obviously it risks escalation. Let's remember what Qatar has been doing. Qatar has been working with the United States to try and deliver a ceasefire and the return of hostages. They've been tireless in those negotiations. That's the context in which this strike has occurred.
Wright: Are you outraged by it?
Foreign Minister: Well, I think it's the wrong thing to do. I've said that this is a clear violation of Qatar's sovereignty, and flies in the face of what we all want, which is a ceasefire and the return of the hostages. That's what Qatar has been working for, and I know that President Trump has made similar comments today.
Wright: Okay, I want to move on to news just in today, young Australians are being given a new tool to help protect them while partying overseas. This comes after the methanol poisoning in Laos last year which killed Australian women Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles. Just tell us about this and how it will help protect young Australians in particular?
Foreign Minister: Thanks so much. Well, first, we all remember the tragic deaths of Bianca and Holly, and I have had the privilege of meeting with the families. We are all so distressed about the deaths of these two wonderful young women, and we all want to see that this never happen again. And that's one of the things we wanted to do, in the aftermath of these tragedies, is to say how can we try and inform young people so they have more information about how to party safely? So, I am really pleased today that we are launching the Partying Safely Hub, which is available on Smartraveller, which gives resources to universities and schools and also provides information for young people about how best to try and keep safe.
Wright: Yep, OK, you can find that on the Smartraveller website. Now before you go, yesterday we saw the Prime Minister. He was unable to secure an infrastructure deal with Vanuatu. You were just there last month. You couldn't secure a deal either. Were your meetings in Port Villa effective, or has Beijing simply outplayed us here?
Foreign Minister: You've heard me over the last few years say two things. One, is we're determined to strengthen our relationships with the Pacific. And second, I've made clear that Australia lost the opportunity under the Turnbull and Morrison governments to continue to be the partner of choice. We now have to work to be a partner of choice. And you've seen that across the Pacific, the different relationships we've built, the different agreements we have with different countries. We'll obviously keep working through this discussion with Vanuatu. We want to make sure this agreement works for them and works for the Australian people.
Wright: How far along was the deal, or is the deal?
Foreign Minister: Well, you would have seen the Prime Minister's press conference yesterday with the Prime Minister of Vanuatu. There's obviously still issues that need to be resolved. We're willing to engage on those issues. We think the approach that we are taking is an approach that is in Vanuatu’s interest, certainly in Vanuatu’s interest in terms of development, and also in the interests of Australia in the broader region.
Wright: OK, just quickly, we know that the locals in Vanuatu, they want to be able to come to Australia without getting visas. Are you willing to relinquish that? Are you willing to give that to them, similar to the arrangement we have with New Zealand?
Foreign Minister: Look, I think we have had a very clear approach that we want to enable some engagement. We obviously have labour movement in PALM, what's called the Pacific Labour Scheme, but we're always very conscious of the importance of managing that appropriately.
Wright: Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, we really appreciate your time on a very busy day. Thank you.
Foreign Minister: Thank you very much.