Andrew Clennell, Presenter: Alright. So, Japan and Australia have agreed new deals today to work more closely on energy supplies and defence. It comes during the first visit to Australia by Japan's new Prime Minister. All those details in a moment with the Trade and Tourism Minister, Don Farrell. But I began by asking him about the first day of the antisemitism Royal Commission's public hearings. Don Farrell, thanks for your time. The Bondi Royal Commission has begun today, the hearings, and Alex Ryvchin and others have given evidence of how hard a place Australia is, in their view, for Jewish people at the moment. What do you make of that?
Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell: The Federal Government abhors antisemitism. Of course, we've set up this Royal Commission to try and answer many of the questions that have come out of Bondi. But most particularly, I think, to get some answers as to how we can address this serious issue of antisemitism. There's no place in Australia for antisemitism. Obviously, the Jewish community and other groups will make a contribution to this Royal Commission. But my own wish would be, and I know this is the wish of the government, that at the end of this process, we ensure that we do our best to remove antisemitism from Australian society.
Andrew Clennell: Now let's talk about the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi. What is the significance of the visit? What can we hope to accomplish from it? We've already seen a defence agreement signed today. Will there be an announcement on energy and fuel security? What's to come from it?
Minister Farrell: Look, this is all about making sure that we ensure our friendships in the region. One of the things that this government has done and what I have done as Australia's Trade Minister is to rebuild relationships in our region. And Japan is very, very important in that process. They purchase an enormous amount of our gas. They supply us with a significant amount of our fuel, particularly diesel. So, this is all about continuing the relationship. The Foreign Minister was in Japan only last week. We want good relations with Japan. You've mentioned the Defence Treaty that we've discussed, but we're also doing work in the trade space and in the critical mineral space. Japan is a very big investor in Australia in our critical minerals projects, and we want that to continue and in fact to grow. So, this is all about building and strengthening our relationship with one of our closest allies.
Andrew Clennell: And have you been in discussions between the Prime Ministers or had a discussion yourself with the Japanese Prime Minister so far during this visit?
Minister Farrell: I was in the discussion where both the Prime Minister and the Japanese Prime Minister had their meeting. I'm in fact, two weeks’ time I'll be up there in Japan continuing our discussions with Japan. You might recall after the Prime Minister's visit to Singapore, we met with our counterparts to put some flesh on the bone of these agreements. It's important that the document itself reflects what's agreed. But it's even more important, Andrew that we actually get some practical results out of these agreements. So, if that means more fuel to Australia, that's a really good thing. Certainly, our discussions with, with Singapore has continued to result in us getting our fuel supplies. But also in the area of critical minerals, we really want greater investment from our allies in the region. There are wonderful opportunities in our critical mineral industry, and we want Japan to be engaged in that process.
Andrew Clennell: When it comes to our fuel security, how confident are you that enough trade routes are open to keep fuel coming as the Strait of Hormuz stay shut?
Minister Farrell: Look, I was pleased when I went to Singapore and got had a meeting with our counterparts up there. As we speak, there's 56 ships on their way delivering petrol, delivering diesel and delivering airline fuel into Australia. We're not overconfident about this, but as a government, we're absolutely doing our best to secure this fuel. I look after Export Finance Australia – they've been assisting companies to ensure that we get access to this fuel, and so far, we've managed to do that. Obviously, the sooner the issues in the Middle East are resolved and the Strait’s open, well, the sooner the better. But in the meantime, the Albanese Government is continuing to ensure that we have ample supplies of whether it's petrol, whether it's diesel or whether it's airline fuel – I'll continue to do that. I'll continue to have discussions with our friends in the region. And I'm hopeful that we can continue to ensure that Australians have enough fuel, whether they're going on tours into the into the regions, whether they're flying, whether they're FIFO workers wanting to get to and from work, whether they're miners. We want all of those companies continue to do their work and we're doing our absolute best, Andrew, to ensure those supplies. And for the moment, those supplies are continuing to come to Australia.
Andrew Clennell: Just on that briefly, as Tourism Minister, I mean, are you confident we can keep all domestic and international flights going or do you have concerns some of them will be cut?
Minister Farrell: Look, all of the information I've got is that we will have adequate fuel supplies, particularly airline fuel into the future. China is a significant contributor to that. We'll continue to have our discussions with the Chinese about getting access to airline fuel. Companies are making – it's true that companies are making some decisions to cut back on some flights, but I'm confident that by and large, tourism will continue to operate into and out of Australia.
Andrew Clennell: Will there be an announcement around creating a fuel reserve, bigger fuel reserve in the budget? The Opposition's obviously announced they would spend money on a 60-day reserve. Will we see anything in that space in the budget next week?
Minister Farrell: Andrew, you know my answer to these questions. I have a good relationship with the Treasurer. He lets me deal with issues of trade and I let him deal with all of the issues of the budget. There's only, I think now, seven sleeps until you find out exactly what's in the budget. And I'm certainly not going to be making any announcements that might prejudge ---
Andrew Clennell: --- but you're not saying it won't happen.
Minister Farrell: --- I think it will be a terrific budget.
Andrew Clennell: You're not saying it won't happen?
Minister Farrell: No, I'm saying – you're putting words into my mouth now, Andrew. What I'm saying is that we have a fantastic Treasurer in Jim Chalmers. He's been working very hard on what's going to be in the budget and I'm very happy to leave it to him to make an announcement about all the good things that are going to be in this budget.
Andrew Clennell: All right, I'll just get rid of half of these questions, shall I now? I'll keep going. Don Farrell, as Tourism Minister, you would, I assume, keep an eye on net migration. Will we see those figures go up, stabilise or come down?
Minister Farrell: Well, again, that's a question for the Home Affairs Minister. We need a balance in this country, Andrew. You might have seen the candidate for the One Nation in the up and coming by election in the seat of Farrer. He's recognised that particularly in the bush, we need to keep migration coming to ensure that we've got enough workers to work in a range of industries in Australia where there are shortages. This is a question of balance. We want to ensure that we've got enough people to work in our industries, particularly in tourism, particularly in the farming industry, to make sure we've got enough workers to do all the jobs that are required in the regions. But it has to be balanced. I prefer to see a situation, Andrew, to be honest with you, where we had bipartisanship on this issue. I think historically Australia has had bipartisanship on migration levels and my own preference would be that we get back to a situation where we can agree that we – that migration is a good thing. My family came out from Ireland, and most Australians have a link with overseas. So, migration is a good thing for this country, but we just have to ensure that it's balanced into the future.
Andrew Clennell: The Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino told us yesterday that a decision on an extension of the fuel excise cut will be taken post-budget. Do you think if the war continues it will be justified?
Minister Farrell: Well again, that will be an issue I'm very happy to have a discussion with Minister Mulino about after the budget. It has been a significant factor in putting downward pressure on the price, particularly of petrol. So, you'll have seen petrol prices drop very significantly from the peaks of a couple of weeks ago. Obviously, the decision to cut the excise has been good for reducing petrol prices and also putting downward pressure on inflation. Just what we do into the future. As Minister Mulino has said, we'll make a decision about that after the budget.
Andrew Clennell: Alright. It does seem in this budget, I mean Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese aren't walking away from the fact that there are going to be tax measures that weren't promised at the election. Jim Chalmers spoke about it today. In fact, in an interview with me on May 1 last year, the Prime Minister specifically said he wouldn't touch negative gearing. Now how do you think these changes will go down politically? How do you think you can get away with them politically?
Minister Farrell: Well, I'm sure that the Treasurer and the Prime Minister will be out there selling a successful budget. I certainly don't want to prejudge what's going to be in the budget. They are matters for the Treasurer to announce next Tuesday. We haven't got long to wait, Andrew, and you'll be able to find out absolutely everything in the next ---
Andrew Clennell: Do you have any fear that those sort of changes could prove very unpopular?
Minister Farrell: I'm not a fearful sort of person, Andrew. Look, Andrew, my job is to be the Trade Minister and my job is to ensure that Australia continues to benefit from all of our free trade agreements. Last year our trade hit $1.3 trillion. So, if you have a look at all of the issues that are going on around the world, our trade has continued to expand and of course with our new free trade agreement with the Europeans, it will expand even further. We almost doubled in one fell swoop with this free trade agreement the number of countries that we will have a free trade agreement. 27 new countries will have a free trade agreement with Australia. My job is to keep that going and that's what I'm very focused on building those relationships in our region that deliver free and fair trade and prosperity for Australian workers and businesses.
Andrew Clennell: Just finally, what would a One Nation win in the Farrer by election this weekend mean for Australian politics?
Minister Farrell: Look, we'll let the good people of Farrer make the decision. The electorate always gets it right. I do notice that the One Nation candidate wanted to be a Labor candidate. He wasn't accepted as a Labor candidate and we'll see whether or not the people of Farrer elect him into the Federal Parliament this coming weekend.
Andrew Clennell: I did say finally, but I'll ask one more. How's the One Nation result in South Australia sort of struck you and, and what does that mean for politics in Australia going forward?
Minister Farrell: Look, I, to be honest with you, I was surprised at the One Nation result. The seat where I live in Narungga, sorry, Ngadjuri, is now represented by a One Nation person. So, I was surprised about that. They have significantly increased their vote. But I think the interesting thing will be whether or not they stay with One Nation. The pattern in the past has been that about 70% of people who are elected under the One Nation banner eventually resign from One Nation. And so, I think it'll be interesting to see whether or not that pattern continues in the South Australian Parliament.
Andrew Clennell: Don Farrell, thanks so much for your time.
Minister Farrell: Nice talking with Andrew.