Interview with Tom Connell, Afternoon Agenda, Sky News

Part of this transcript has been redacted in accordance with Digital Transformation Agency guidelines.

Tom Connell, Host: Welcome back, Democrats beginning to speak out about whether or not Joe Biden is fit to run for office for another four years for president. I spoke with the Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Tim Watts a little earlier and spoke with him about whether there’s any concerns in terms of Australia and watching on. 

Tim Watts, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs: I don’t have any doubt about the capability of the President of the United States but let me just say that the next US election is obviously a matter for the voters of the United States of America. Australia's relationship with the United States will persist regardless of who the President of the United States is. They're our closest security partner, our closest strategic partner. So, I'm certain that regardless of who wins the next election, the Australia-US relationship will continue from strength to strength.

Connell: Did you watch the debate?

Watts: No.

Connell: You didn't?

Watts: It's an hour and a half, Tom. I've got a very important day job going around the world engaging with Australia's national –

Connell: Did you see the snippets of it and Joe Biden? What did you think?

Watts: Tom, I can't say that I watched it.

Connell: Not even highlights package?

Watts: No, I have a very significant day job, Tom.

Connell: You're busier than me, clearly. What about the government, though, preparing? Is it fair to say the Labor government has to prepare for both outcomes and do so early on? Is there a meeting scheduled with Donald Trump himself and anyone from the Australian government, or someone within the administration?

Watts: Well, as I say, the Australian Government stands ready to work with whoever the American people choose as their president at the next election.

Connell: Does that include, I mean, David Cameron, for example, went and met Donald Trump. Does it include putting feelers out early? Maybe the ambassador, whomever it might be?

Watts: Well, the Australian relationship with the United States is broader than any one individual, that's always been the case, frankly. This is a relationship that extends from our people, to our businesses, to our defense forces, to our intelligence agencies. So, there is a rich network of relationships between Australians and the people of the United States.

Connell: So, it doesn't have to be sort of government to government. Is that? Would that be inappropriate before the election?

Watts: Well, there is an incredible density of connections with every sphere of Australian society and every sphere of US society. I mean, that's not surprising. It's been the case for many decades. 

Connell: Okay.

Watts: And will continue to be.

Connell: Fatima Payman across the floor supporting a Greens motion on recognising the Palestinian state. Is it likely the party ends up with that policy eventually?

Watts: Well, we've been really clear about our position on the recognition of the State of Palestine, we have said that we would recognise the State of Palestine as part of a peace process leading to a two-state solution and an enduring and just resolution to that conflict. Now the new part of that position is that we have recognised that that recognition of Palestine could happen during a peace process, not at the conclusion of it. Now, this is a position that has evolved with the United Kingdom, with Canada, with Germany. There are many countries around the world that have evolved the position about how we can most constructively contribute to a peace process.

Connell: Some other countries have sort of said, "well, look, Israel is no longer opening their door to that. So, let's just recognise it – that’s the next step, isn't it? Do you think there's a chance Labor goes there anyway, eventually? 

Watts: Well, this is why we are thinking about when is the time that would have the most impact in recognizing a Palestinian state as part of a peace process. We have also set down some markers on the kind of issues we would want to see some progress on in order to do that, so governance reforms, security concerns being addressed are two of those. We’ve said that we can’t see a role for Hamas -

Connell: And they’re non-negotiable? They have to happen before you do –

Watts: We want to see some progress on those issues and when we're judging when recognition could have the biggest impact on the peace process.

Connell: Prime Minister not going to NATO, didn't go to Ukraine for the peace summit as well. Is this dropping off the priority list as we get closer to an election?

Watts: Well Tom, Malcolm Turnbull did not go to a NATO summit, Scott Morrison didn't go to a NATO summit. Tony Abbott didn't go to a NATO summit. Richard Marles is representing the government at the NATO summit in Washington in July, and he's doing that because while Australia is not a NATO member, we share the interests of our NATO partners in supporting a rules-based international order, and we've strongly engaged with NATO as an AP4 partner. I've attended NATO ministerial meetings myself, where we have strongly advocated for our interests in the region in a rules-based international order. I've got no doubt that the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister will very well represent Australia at that summit.

---

Connell: Speculation of a promotion? You ready to go up a notch?

Watts: Tom, I am delighted to be making a contribution as the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs. I couldn't imagine a better boss than Penny Wong.

Connell: You'd be ready for higher duties though, you've cut your teeth, do you think?

Watts: We are doing really important work in this portfolio. And I don't know if you've noticed, but there's a lot of work to be done in the Foreign Affairs portfolio under the Albanese Government. We are working very hard, restoring trust, rebuilding relationships, and advancing Australian national interests.

Connell: But can you give the line, “ready to serve in whatever role I get”, even if it's a higher one?

Watts: I always act at the pleasure of the Prime Minister, Tom.

Connell: All right, Tim Watts. Thanks for your time.

Watts: Pleasure.