Trudy McIntosh, Host: It's been a big week for the Prime Minister in Asia and it seems he's managed to become almost Donald Trump's bestie by the end of it. We saw this toast together at a dinner at the start of APEC before the President's big meeting with President Xi of China. Donald Trump has flown all the way back to Washington now, leaving our Prime Minister there with other APEC leaders. Joining me live to discuss is the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Matt Thistlethwaite. Matt, as we see these pictures on our screen, we're waiting for the family photo. Our Prime Minister will be there very shortly, we believe. What did you make of the big superpower showdown yesterday? President Trump and President Xi, it appears there's an apparent thaw now in these relations. I'm sure we'd all welcome that?
Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister For Foreign Minister and Trade: Hi, Trudy. We're definitely welcoming that news, particularly the thawing in the relationship regarding trade. No one wins from the escalation in trade protectionism. And we saw that the United States and China had put in place measures that restricted trade. So, it's wonderful to see that these outcomes being reached. And Australia has always had the view that we want free and fair trade not only within our region, throughout the world, and this contributed to that. So, it's a great outcome.
McIntosh: And what about Beijing has said now there's a one year pause on that sudden export control they put in place for the rare earths. Does that have any impact on the deal that Australia has done in terms of the US deal here with our critical minerals?
Assistant Minister: Well, it's welcome news because a lot of the magnets associated with medical technology that Australians rely on every day are produced in China. And there was a concern that that could have an effect on our medical industry. I guess what we've entered into with the United States is around building our capacity into the future. Australia's been very good at extracting the rare earths and critical minerals that we have here in Australia, but we've tended to ship them overseas for processing. The Future Made in Australia policy is about ensuring that we're investing in processing them here, that we increase our sovereign capability and that we get better returns from that. And now we're partnering with the United States to get those investment funds in so that we can develop that capacity here in Australia.
McIntosh: And Matt, standby, I just want to take our viewers to Dan Tehan, the Shadow Energy Minister. He's just come out of this meeting where they were discussing net zero. Let's have a listen.
[throws to Dan Tehan press conference]
McIntosh: That's the Shadow Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister, Dan Tehan, that meeting of backbench Liberal MPs wrapping up there, but still the big question is what is going to happen with that net zero target? And for now, there is still no formal position on that out of the Liberals or the Nationals. I want to bring back in the Assistant Foreign Minister, Matt Thistlethwaite, who we were speaking to before. Matt, you were listening to Dan Tehan there. I suppose the question for Labor is what are you doing to bring sections of the community who clearly have a real worry about net zero and the impact on the regions in particular, what is Labor doing to bring that cohort with them?
Assistant Minister: Well, it sounded from Dan Tehan there, Trudy, that they've agreed they've had a meeting this morning to agree to have another meeting. They're all at sea when it comes to this issue. There's a significant proportion of their party that are sceptical about climate change and they're forcing this scepticism on net zero and that's providing uncertainty. What the Australian people want is certainty and they want a government that's committed to taking stronger action on climate change. So, we reduce emissions, but at the same time we transition to renewable energy. And what we've done to bring the Australian people with us is provide that certainty through a policy that net zero architecture, policies like the safeguard mechanism, our household battery scheme, our large investments in solar and wind and renewables is all providing that certainty for businesses and households to make that important transition.
McIntosh: Matt, there's certainty in terms of where Labor is going, but I suppose the other big thing we're seeing highlighted this week is the uncertainty that's there for these big smelters. For example, Tomago, the one in lights at the moment, this stalemate with the owner, Rio Tinto over, they're refusing to take the taxpayer lifeline. They want to lock in a cheaper energy deal from 2028. What lengths is the government willing to go to keep Tomago open?
Assistant Minister: Well, firstly, Trudy, my thoughts are with the workers. There's thousands of workers there who've worked very hard for this company and we want to see Tomago survive. That's why we're committed to working with the company to put in place a package that sees it survive into the future regarding their energy costs. They had a very good contract with the NSW Government that's up for renewal. That's why the NSW Government is involved in these negotiations. So, you've got the NSW Government and our government working with Tomago to try to get them the most favourable energy contract, but also to put in place measures from a Commonwealth level to ensure that the company survives. So, we're willing to work with them and do whatever we can to keep that company open.
McIntosh: Would there be an option of potential new ownership? I saw in the Financial Review this morning the that government's not ruling anything out, including that?
Assistant Minister: Well, that's really a matter for Tomago. They've got their owning companies and their shareholders. That's a matter for them. But they should be under no illusion that the Commonwealth Government and indeed the NSW Government are committed to working with them to try and ensure that the company survives. It's an important employer in the Hunter region. It produces high quality aluminium that's sold domestically and on international markets. And we want to be a government and an economy that continues to make important products such as that.
McIntosh: Assistant Foreign Minister, Matt Thistlethwaite, really appreciate your time today. Thank you.
Assistant Minister: Thank you, Trudy.