Olivia Caisley, Host: Let's get some immediate reaction from the government to what the Shadow Defence Minister said there. And bring in Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite. Welcome to the program. Look, we did hear from Angus Taylor there, who says he believes in the status quo when it comes to Taiwan, but wants a principled commitment though to Taiwan security. So, doubling down on those comments, he did not specify, though, what that means. Is the Coalition's position clear to you?
Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister Foreign Minister and Trade: Hi, Olivia. No, it's not. I think Angus Taylor was all over the shop there. He appeared to make a claim and then walk away from it. I think it's pleasing to see that the Leader of the Opposition has come out and backed the government's position, and that is to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and in the Asia Pacific more broadly by maintaining the status quo. And that's a point that's been reiterated this week by the Prime Minister in his visit to China and by the Foreign Minister in her visit to the ASEAN Conference last week. So, it's about ensuring peace and stability within our region. When you've got that, that's when you can have those important trade delegations and businesses visiting China and other nations throughout the Asia Pacific to ensure that they can do business and create jobs for Australians.
Caisley: I wanted to ask, though, are you open to this idea that he's putting forward that you need to have a principled commitment when it comes to Taiwan and going further in terms of, I guess, a joint commitment and making that clearer than it currently is?
Assistant Minister: Well, I don't think that Angus Taylor knows what that means. He certainly didn't explain what that means, and I'd love to know what the Leader of the Opposition thinks about that. Our position has been very, very clear for the whole period that we've been in office, and that is to ensure that we maintain the current situation, the status quo, in the Taiwan Strait and in the Asia Pacific region more broadly. Only through that will you get peace and stability, which all of our nations along the Asia Pacific Rim and beyond have a vested interest in ensuring continues into the future.
Caisley: We did see a shift, too, from the United States this week when it comes to Ukraine. So, Donald Trump says he'll now send missile systems, and that's after he'd previously been pretty reluctant to continue military aid. We'll remember that was, there was that extraordinary exchange between him and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. Does this new military commitment from the US change the calculus for Ukraine? Should Australia be doing more in response as well?
Assistant Minister: Well, I think the important thing to reiterate, Olivia, is that Australia is one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the Ukrainian military's resistance of Russia's illegal and immoral invasion. We've been continually providing military support in the form of hardware like Bushmasters, trucks, drones, artillery and other equipment as requested by the Ukrainian military. We've also provided humanitarian support for civilian organisations doing important work to protect the Ukrainian civilian population and indeed sanctions on a number of Russian individuals and companies. And we recently strengthened those sanctions. So, we're continually liaising with the Ukrainian ambassador and Ukrainian military representatives about their needs and making sure that Australia does its bit.
Caisley: Turning to the Prime Minister's trip to China this week, he's set to return to Australia tonight. We heard from Shadow Trade Minister Kevin Hogan this morning who said that the Prime Minister should show the same enthusiasm for engaging with the US as he has on his recent China trip. Is that fair criticism?
Assistant Minister: Well, I don't think it's about trying to score points with one partner or the other. Australia wants to maintain strong relations with all of our partner nations and including the United States. And the Prime Minister sought a meeting with Donald Trump. That meeting was arranged at the G7, but unfortunately President Trump had to cancel that as a result of Iran…
Caisley: [interjecting] Of course that was out of the PMs hands. Do you have any idea, though, when this meeting with US President Donald Trump will happen, though? Has the White House given any assurance it could be before the end of the year, for example?
Assistant Minister: Well, we're reaching out to the United States to attempt to arrange an alternate meeting, but there are continual discussions that go on at a government to government level between Australia and the United States. It's our most important security ally, one of our most important trading partners, not to mention the very strong people to people links that exist between our nations. And at the moment, you've got the largest contingent of U.S. marines in Australia as part of the annual U.S. Marine Rotational Force and Talisman Sabre, which has got a record number of Australian allies in those important exercises going on to the north of Australia. So, the relationship with the United States military and the Australian Defence Force has never been stronger.
Caisley: Sure but there is this kind of contrast or dichotomy, though. At the same time, we've had the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, this morning saying finance ministers across the G20 are having blunt conversations about Trump's tariff regime. Has there been any progress on securing exemptions for Australia, considering we are a key ally? What's the government's game plan here?
Assistant Minister: Well, since the tariffs were announced, we've made it very clear that we don't agree with them. They're not the actions of a friend. And we've pushed back against them, publicly as well, and we'll continue to do that. But I would point out that if you look, comparatively speaking, Australia has fared better than other nations. We've got the minimum level of tariff. We would like to see that 10% tariffs generally on Australian products removed. We don't think anyone wins from tariffs and we'll continue to make that point and the Treasurer will make that point, our Finance Ministers, our Foreign Minister and indeed our Prime Minister when that opportunity arises.
Caisley: We've seen some interesting news out of the United Kingdom today. They're moving to reduce the voting age to 16. Let's be honest, if Australia was to do the same, it would likely benefit the Labor Party and the Greens as well. Is that shift and reducing the voting age something Labor would consider here in Australia as well?
Assistant Minister: Look, it's interesting and I think a lot of nations would be looking at what the United Kingdom is exploring, doing and see how it does go. Here in Australia our party doesn't have any policy or plan to lower the voting age. But I would point out that at the last election we had a record enrolment for younger Australians participating in that election. And I think that that reflected in the way that the election went and the voting patterns. Particular issues like housing affordability, like student debt and cost of living pressures on young Australians were talked about on a daily basis. And it's good to see young voices heard. And I will point out, Olivia, we've got a 21 year old Senator from the Labor Party that's just been elected. So, younger Australians are getting a voice. But in terms of what the UK is doing, I think that a lot of nations will be looking at that with interest.
Caisley: Ok, so is it fair to say that you're at least open to the idea?
Assistant Minister: We're not open to it at the moment. It's not our policy. It's not our policy to lower the voting age.
Caisley: All right. Former Labor leader Mark Latham has defended himself against allegations of domestic abuse, allegations he strenuously denies. We've heard from Tanya, Blippersek, Plibersek, I should say, this morning, who says discussions are underway about whether to remove his photo from the Caucus Room. Would you support that?
Assistant Minister: What Mark Latham is accused of doing is disgusting and there's no place for that in any workplace in Australia. And I know that there are moves afoot in the NSW parliament to, to look to, to sanction Mark Latham and that's indeed appropriate I tend to agree with Tanya. I don't think that we do want people like that, with a record like that on the wall of the Caucus Room. At the end of the day, it's a matter for the Caucus, but it will no doubt be a topic of discussion when we return to Parliament next week.
Caisley: Matt Thistlethwaite, thank you very much for your time.
Assistant Minister: Thank you, Olivia.