Interview with Karl Stefanovic - Channel Nine, Today Show

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Welcome back. Australia has finally signed a historic defence treaty with Papua New Guinea. To discuss, I’m joined by Minister Amanda Rishworth and Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash. Good morning, ladies. Nice to see you. Amanda, you first up. I'm sure China will be shaking in their boots with this alliance.

AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS: Well, I think this treaty is a very important treaty between our two countries, Australia and Papua New Guinea. What it does is really show our shared relationship, our shared commitment. But it is about our two countries. It's not about any other countries. It's about our relationship and our commitment to security in our region.

KARL STEFANOVIC: It's about our two countries, but it's also about the US, wouldn’t you say?

AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, it is about our two countries. I mean, Papua New Guinea, you know, has been very keen on this treaty, as has Australia. This allows us to recognise that an attack on either of our countries is not in our common interests. So this is a very good outcome and shows our continued connection to what is an incredibly important neighbour.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Michaelia, the Solomons and Vanuatu, they're as good as gone?

MICHAELIA CASH, LIBERAL SENATOR: Well, I have to say there is still work to be done in the Pacific. In relation to this particular treaty, the Coalition has welcomed it. 

The security of the Indo-Pacific is critical to Australia's own regional security and prosperity. It is a fact, though, and you've articulated it, Karl, that there are authoritarian powers and in particular the Chinese Communist Party who are seeking to influence and shape the Pacific in ways that are not consistent with our values and our interests. And that is why we really want to see now the Nakamal agreement signed by this government. It is very disappointing that fell over.

But more than that, the issue, the critical issue of the return of the Port of Darwin to Australian hands has again reared its head. And in particular, this is important that this does happen. This is an important piece of infrastructure. 

Even Donald Trump, the President of the United States, is now questioning why the Albanese Government, who said they were committed to the return, have not yet facilitated it. So constant vigilance, but also ensuring that it is our influence in the Pacific that is front and centre, not the Chinese Communist Party's.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Why hasn't that happened, Amanda?

AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, firstly, I would say that under the previous Coalition government, the relationships in the Pacific were at an all-time low. Our government has been restoring those relationships. Let's not forget it was the Liberal government that sold the port of Darwin. 

We, of course, made the commitment to restore that to Australian hands. We're working through that process. But it was the Liberal Party that sold it. It was the Liberal Party that destroyed our relationships in the Pacific. And we, as a Government, are cleaning up that mess.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Michaelia, I mean, your party is all over the shop at the moment. It's all Andrew Hastie's fault, I hear.

MICHAELIA CASH: Do you know, Karl, there is nothing worse than politicians focusing on themselves.

KARL STEFANOVIC: [Laughs]

MICHAELIA CASH: The Australian people, they actually hate that.

AMANDA RISHWORTH: They do. They do.

MICHAELIA CASH: So I'm going to disappoint you and say, I have one job, and that job is to hold this Labor Government to account.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Yeah.

MICHAELIA CASH: The Australian people want to know that I'm out there every day ensuring that we are putting in place, you know, mechanisms that will bring prices down, that will ensure that they can keep the lights on, but more than that, are making their lives easier.

KARL STEFANOVIC: I know.

MICHAELIA CASH: So I wake up every day, I know where my fight is. My fight is with the Albanese Government. It is a bad government. You are in a cost of living crisis, and that is squarely where my focus is.

KARL STEFANOVIC: What about the rest of your party, though? I mean, it's just all a bit embarrassing, isn't it?

MICHAELIA CASH: Well, again, the Australian people, they don't like it when we focus on ourselves.

KARL STEFANOVIC: That's true.

MICHAELIA CASH: Our job is to focus on them.

KARL STEFANOVIC: All right. Amanda, I mean, you can't believe your luck, can you? I mean, Albo could take a Contiki tour for the rest of the term and still win.

AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, I have to say that it is a bit of Days of Our Lives over there in the Liberal Party but we're not going to get distracted. We're getting on with the job of governing, implementing, delivering our election commitments and we will continue to do that and, you know, Michaela's right. 

People don't like parties that are focused on themselves. Unfortunately, that's what the Liberal Party is doing at the moment, but we're going to get on with our job, which is governing for the Australian people.

KARL STEFANOVIC: All right, you're back to work this week. Appreciate it. Thank you so much.

ENDS