Television interview – Sunrise

E&OE

Subjects: Donald Trump; Middle East Conflict; Fuel; Solicitor-General.

NAT BARR, HOST: In breaking news this morning, Donald Trump has once again taken aim at Australia. During a news conference that was beamed right around the world in the last few hours, he singled us out for a lack of support in Iran.

[TRUMP GRAB]: It's not just NATO. You know who else didn't help us? South Korea didn't help us. You know who else didn't help us? Australia didn't help us.

BARR: Well, it comes as the President's deadline for Iran to make a deal fast approaches expiring at 10am tomorrow, Australian Eastern time. For more, we are joined by Michelle Rowland, Attorney-General, live in Canberra. Good morning to you. Is our relationship with America on the rocks?

MICHELLE ROWLAND, ATTORNEY-GENERAL: Well, the United States, of course, is one of our longest and most important allies. But I will say this, Australia is not taking offensive action in this war. We will not be deploying troops. The actions that we have taken are defensive ones, noting that this has come in response to requests from the Gulf states, and it's designed to protect Australian citizens who are there. But again, I reiterate how important it is to continue to have a relationship with the United States. I think all of your viewers would agree that this war cannot end soon enough.

BARR: When's the last time our Prime Minister spoke with Donald Trump or anyone from the White House?

ROWLAND: Look, I understand that communications with the White House are a matter of course, not only between our diplomats, but also between our senior officials. We know that the Prime Minister, when he has met with President Trump, it has been cordial and it has been recognised that Australia has an important role to play in the United States’ economic future, particularly with critical minerals. They continue to be such an important trading partner. We will continue as a country to call for a de-escalation of this conflict. Your viewers are being impacted adversely by events on the other side of the world that they did not cause and Australia did not cause.

BARR: Has the Prime Minister chatted to Donald Trump during this crisis, though, like, in the last few weeks?

ROWLAND: I'll leave the Prime Minister to answer that for himself accurately. But again, what I will say is that there is constant contact between our officials, between our people in Washington and also at a Ministerial level as well.

BARR: Is there a concern now that he is really getting stuck into us? Because, can we fix this fuel crisis without the US?

ROWLAND: Well, we are doing everything we can. I represent an electorate that is a commuter electorate. You've got viewers tuning in today who are on school holidays, who are rightly anxious about what is going on and the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and what that's doing to our supply chains, to our agriculture stocks and so forth. But again, I think I should just reiterate that all of your viewers would agree that we cannot see an end to this conflict soon enough.

BARR: Yes, exactly, everyone agrees. Rationing, there's a lot of speculation coming from experts lining up this morning that we are headed for rationing. Are we?

ROWLAND: We are not considering that. We are focused on security of supply and work has been done across industry but also again, with international partners to ensure that supply continues. We did have security of supply until April, that has now been extended to May. Every ship that was supposed to arrive has arrived, and we know that by shoring up arrangements with some of our closest trading partners in this area, including Japan and Singapore, they are the best ways that we can continue to ensure that we have that security of supply.

BARR: Just quickly, you've just appointed Australia's new chief legal adviser.

ROWLAND: We certainly have. The Solicitor-General is known as the second Law Officer of the Commonwealth, and we have appointed an eminent barrister, Dr. Ruth Higgins, SC. She will be representing the Commonwealth in some of our most important cases in the High Court and the Federal Court, but also providing advice to Government, and I hope all of your young viewers who are at home watching this morning think about what they can do if they're choosing a career in the law. This is one of those positions.

BARR: Yep, first female Solicitor-General, so congratulations.

[ENDS]