Topics:  Marles US visit, US-Australia Alliance, defence spending, Kevin Rudd, protest activity, Bob Katter.

 

E&OE

 

MARK LEVY:

 

But we learn this morning that the reason for the trip was to suck up; for Richard Marles to lobby the Vice President JD Vance for a meeting between Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump. So why didn't Richard Marles just tell us and tell the Opposition in Question Time yesterday? Angus Taylor is the Shadow Defence Minister. He's on the line with me now, Angus, good morning to you.

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Great to be with you. Thanks for having me.

 

MARK LEVY:

 

I’ve got to be honest with you, Angus, my mum and dad taught me when I was, you know, a lot younger, just tell the truth and be open and honest and you won't have any problems. Well, why couldn't he just tell you guys when you asked him the questions yesterday in Question Time? This is the reason I had the meeting, and this is why I had the meeting. Is it Is that too much to ask?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

It's not too much to ask. He completely refused to do it. He gave no answer at all. He just did his usual carry on about how terrible we were, and didn't answer the most fundamental question, which is, what came out of these meetings? What was the purpose of them? He's given multiple competing explanations. It truly was the Richard Marles Magical Mystery Tour, this one. But it was amateur hour, and we appear to be absolutely no closer to cementing the AUKUS relationship or agreement with the United States; which is crucial for the defence of our country and our region at the most dangerous time since the Second World War. And we appear to be no closer to our Prime Minister meeting with the President of the United States. Keep in mind, he's met three times with the President of China, but not the President who is the leader of the most important country in the free world.

 

So, this is not good enough. This alliance really matters. AUKUS really matters, and yet they are not taking it in a serious way that they should, and they're not being transparent about it either, and that's what's most upsetting is they're just refusing to answer questions on it, and none of us have any idea what went on in any of these meetings.

 

MARK LEVY:

 

So, are you any closer to understanding when the Prime Minister will actually sit down for a face-to-face with Trump?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

No. And the problem is, Trump's going to say to him: ‘you're not spending what you need to on defending your own country, and that really matters to us as an ally of Australia’. I mean, Trump has managed to get countries right across Europe, Japan, Taiwan – you name it – South Korea to increase their defence spending. Those countries are doing it because it's right for them. We should increase our defence spending because it’s right for us, not because we're being asked to do it. But the Albanese Government won't do it. And the result is he knows a meeting with Trump is going to be a real problem for him. So, this is, this is the real issue, and frankly, this is about making sure we have the defence force we need in this country at this time.

 

MARK LEVY:

 

If we're to go off the reports today, Richard Marles has met with JD Vance, and there was a discussion around defence spending, and obviously an attempt to try and calm things down prior to this alleged meeting between Albanese and Trump.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong or right here, though, Angus, is this not a slap in the face for our ambassador, Kevin Rudd? When it takes a rushed trip from Richard Marles to go and sit down with JD Vance, when we've got an American, or an Australian Ambassador, to the United States who can't organise said meeting between our Prime Minister and the US President?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Well, there's obviously a lot of questions about that Mark. There's no doubt about that, about whether Rudd is getting us access. But I think the biggest question is, when is Anthony Albanese going to stump up and fund our defence force, as is required, and bring our allies on board with the strategy we're pursuing so that they can be confident Australia is serious about peace through deterrence in our region. And until that problem is solved, I mean, Kevin Rudd can run around and do what he tries all sorts of things, and the same with Richard Marles. But the underlying problem here is us doing what we need to do to make sure we're defending our country and we're working with our allies to ensure we have peace in our region. And look, let's be clear. I mean, we're seeing the biggest military build-up being done by the Chinese Communist Party in history. We're seeing authoritarian regimes flexing their muscles. I mean, we've seen Iran active in Australia. We've seen that in recent days. I mean, this is, we've got bad regimes in the world right now who are more dangerous than ever, and they're prepared to challenge democratic countries like ours. So, we've got to get serious about this.

 

MARK LEVY:  

 

It's interesting you talk about peace. Angus, I spent the first hour of the program just calling for calm, given what's going to play out on the streets of the Sydney CBD on Sunday. We've got the Palestine Action Group taking to the streets again. We've got the March for Australia gatherings happening as well. All the while, we've got the Sydney Marathon, which will be televised around the world.

I'm interested in your response though, to Tony Burke, he's come out against the protest march plan and the March for Australia gatherings. Why is it that Mr. Burke can speak out about this march, something that really is about their government policy, but not about the marches for Palestine that have seen terrorist flags flown and chants of “death, death to the IDF”?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Because he sees absolutely everything through his ideological lens. So, the double standard is glaring. He didn't condemn the burning of the Australian flag, which I think is a disgraceful thing to have happen at a protest, and on our streets. He wasn't prepared to condemn that. But he's condemning people who want to protest on immigration. Now, I mean that protest should be, should be calm, as you’re absolutely right. But all Australians have the right to protest peacefully. That's a freedom we cherish. That's what makes our democracy strong, and they should be allowed to do it, if they do it under appropriate circumstances. But you know, if Tony Burke is not prepared to condemn the burning of the Australian flag, I mean seriously, this bloke, I think, doesn't have the right to say the sorts of things he's been saying.

 

MARK LEVY:  

 

You know, one of the most disgraceful things I heard in the Parliament this week Angus, was from the Prime Minister in Question Time. When Julian Leeser, who got quite fired up on my program this week about the announcement from the Government around the Iranian regime, funding and orchestrating these attacks in Australia. When the Prime Minister looked at Julian Leeser off the back of his question and said, ‘well, it's all right for you to support us over the Voice’, and then attempted to suggest that the reason why he was taking this position, as a proud Jewish member of the community, was all to do with the politics of it all? I thought that was disgraceful.

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

The way this Government has been acting in question time and in the Parliament over the last couple of weeks, I think is a disgrace. They refuse to answer the most fundamental questions. That they want no accountability and no transparency, and everything is personal attacks. And you know, if you look at that attack on Julian. Julian gave a brilliant speech in the Parliament this week, a passionate speech. I'm sure he said very similar things on your show. And good on Julian for standing up for his community. But also, you know, just as importantly, for what is right, and that's what, you know, that's what we're going to continue to do, and we must continue to do.

 

MARK LEVY:  

 

Alright, I want to finish on Bob Katter, but before I ask you a question about Bob, right? You've been to politics a long time. You seem like a pretty measured sort of bloke. I've never had the pleasure of meeting you in person. Hopefully get that opportunity one day down the track, but you know, when you stand there and you're hammered with questions that might make you a little angry. You've got to keep your calm, don't you, Angus?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

You do, and this is, what he did was over the top and unacceptable. You know, I actually get on pretty well with Bob, but that stuff, nah. Media have got a job to do. We don't always love the questions that you ask us, we don't always love the response we get to our questions. But you know, you got a right to do your job without being threatened. And Bob went over the top here.

 

MARK LEVY:  

 

Should he apologise?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

He should.

 

MARK LEVY:

 

All right. Well, I hope that he sort of has got the right people saying, ‘come on, Bob’, you know. But we all know he's a bit of a rogue MP. We know he likes to shoot from the hip, and that's what attracts him to a lot of people and what attracts people to him. But I think when you've got a clenched fist and you walk up towards a journalist, I mean, if Josh Bavas was trying to get a response, he got the response. But Bob’s old enough and wise enough to know that was a shocking look for an elected Member of Parliament.

 

Anway, Angus, have a great weekend, mate, and we'll catch up again soon.

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Good on you. Thanks for having me. 

 

 

ENDS.