Doorstop, Canberra

Journalist: Thank you for joining us. Congratulations on Labor's win. Firstly, it's removed two leaders, Peter Dutton and Adam Bandt, at the last count. How are you feeling about the landslide?

Trade Minister, Don Farrell: Well, very positive. I think it's a very positive endorsement of Prime Minister Albanese and the flawless campaign that he ran. He had a vision for Australia. I don't think any of the other candidates from the other parties had that vision. I think the Australian people have now overwhelmingly endorsed Anthony Albanese's vision for the future of Australia.

Journalist: And the Labor caucus will meet here tomorrow. Will you remain as Trade Minister?

Minister Farrell: Look, that's entirely in the hands of the Prime Minister. I'll be putting myself forward this afternoon and tomorrow for the ministerial positions. What job I get in that new ministry will be entirely in the hands of the Prime Minister. Obviously, I really like the job as Trade Minister and I'd like to continue. But I'm happy to serve Prime Minister Albanese in any way he thinks I should.

Journalist: I believe you are safe. That has been confirmed as the leadership team will stay the same. Where would your first trip be?

Minister Farrell: Well, that'll be up to the Prime Minister. I know he has some plans to visit some countries and I'd be very happy to go with him if he wanted me to do that. On election night, I got messages from both the Europeans and the Indians indicating that they're very keen to continue with the discussions to get free trade agreements. Obviously, we've got the UAE free trade agreement coming up in a few weeks that will allow all Australian products to go into the UAE tariff-free. So, we're in the business of supporting free and fair trade and arguing wherever we can that the best interests of Australia and the rest of the world is served by free and fair trade.

Journalist: How are we going securing a tariff carve out with the Trump administration?

Minister Farrell: Look, we're continuing to prosecute that argument. Obviously, we've been in caretaker mode for the last five weeks, but our Ambassador, of course, Kevin Rudd, is doing a really good job in the United States prosecuting the argument on our behalf and will continue to do that.

Journalist: And a difficult time between the United States and China, are we making any headway? How do you plan to tackle that relationship going forward?

Minister Farrell: Our argument is very simple. The way to prosperity is through free trade. Tariffs are the wrong way to go and I think we'll quickly see in the United States that inflation goes up, unemployment goes up and the share market goes down. None of those are good for working people. We want to prosecute the argument with the United States with China that tariffs are not the way to go and both countries should remove their tariffs. Thank you.

Journalist: Thank you very much.