When Australians think of New Zealand, we think of the Anzacs and we think of the sacrifice that we've made together in defence of our freedom. Australia and New Zealand are great friends. We think alike and we act alike on the international stage. And this visit here has been one of warmth, of engagement, of practical moves forward, including the meeting that we had yesterday afternoon with leaders in the business community of both Australia and New Zealand, talking about how we can expand that seamless economy, making sure that we can boost productivity to the benefit of both of our economies. So, it's been a very successful visit. Prime Minister Luxon and I have a great relationship and that is symptomatic, I think, of the friendship between our two great nations. This morning at this Anzac Memorial that reflects, just like the Anzac memorials that are in small towns throughout Australia. Here at Arrowtown, a large portion of the population has come out to participate and to pay their respects to the men and women who sacrificed their lives in defence of our respective nations. And today also, it's an opportunity to say thank you and to give respect to the men and women who wear the uniform of the Australian Defence Force and also that of New Zealand.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister. Just on a different topic, will Australia impose sanctions on Israel?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, we have already sanctioned appropriate ministers for their actions. We have imposed sanctions on some of the settlers because of their activity.
JOURNALIST: Yesterday, in your discussions, I think you talked about Palestinian statehood. Did you say that you'd only move together, Australia and New Zealand, and did you set out a timeline?
PRIME MINISTER: No, Australia will make our own decisions. But yesterday of course, the foreign ministers of Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany issued a very strong statement about Prime Minister Netanyahu's announcements on behalf of the Israeli government about further intervention in Gaza. We called for an immediate ceasefire. We called for the release of hostages and we called for the unimpeded entry of aid into Gaza. We have a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding there. And the idea that it can just be continued is completely unacceptable.
JOURNALIST: Have you ruled out, sorry, just back on that original question. Have you ruled out further sanctions?
PRIME MINISTER: No, we make decisions and we never foreshadow any of those measures, but sometimes it's just a slogan. I mean, sanctions, I've done this before at a press conference, which sanctions are you talking about?
JOURNALIST: That would be up to you, wouldn't it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's the point. People aren't clear. What we need to do here is to have very clear statements and actions by the Australian Government that make a difference, rather than respond to a slogan on a protest. What we do is make a difference. The sanctions that we put on Israeli government ministers are a serious action given the actions of those ministers. So, it's entirely appropriate.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, Presidents Trump and Putin have agreed to meet soon. Do you welcome that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think any meetings and dialogue is important, but it's also important of course, that Ukraine be included in any discussion about what has occurred here. We must remember that it is Russia and Vladimir Putin who is the aggressor here, who has breached international law, who has engaged in an illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, who has taken action, which has resulted in death and destruction in Ukraine. And Vladimir Putin can end all this tomorrow. He can just withdraw behind his boundaries of Russia. And it's also had a huge impact, of course, on the global economy. It's one of the factors that fed into global inflation that had consequences on supermarket shelves right around the world. Thanks very much.
