You might remember in the last week or so, Sky News, one of their personalities, and looking at Sky News in general, always on attack against the Prime Minister and the government. But in the last week or so, Graham Richardson, I think it was, was a guest on Sky and he commented that the PM is still doing pretty well in the polls, mainly because he's such a likeable character. I was very surprised to hear that from Sky News and they actually put it to air. The Prime Minister was probably equally surprised to hear that Sky News was happy to describe him as likeable. He joins me this morning. Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. Good morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: G'day, Murray. Always good to be with you.
JONES: I should give you a warmer reception than Sky News generally gives you, but Richo certainly was talking you up as being quite a likeable character, so I guess you've got to take it where you can, Albo.
PRIME MINISTER: Absolutely. I just am doing the best job I possibly can. It's a great privilege to be Australia's 31st Prime Minister. I never take it for granted. Each and every day is an opportunity to help make what is the best country on earth that little bit better. And that's what I'm about doing today with my Future Made in Australia speech I'm giving here in Queensland. Because I think Queensland will be front and centre of economic growth in the future and new industries being created, because that means new jobs and new opportunity.
JONES: And look, as I understand it, very much wrapped up in science. And, you know, we have some of the best science just in the last couple of days, further research into the DNA of sugar, which means that they can really diversify the sugar industry. You know, you've got fabrics, there's all types of things that actually can be used, not just sugar. So, I guess science is very much a pivotal part about what you're talking about talking about as well.
PRIME MINISTER: It certainly is. And what we've always been good at here in Australia is science and innovation. What we always haven't done though, is to take advantage of that and to commercialise those opportunities that are created. Just about every solar panel in the world, for example, has intellectual property that was created here in Australia, either at the Australian National University or the University of New South Wales in particular. And we though don't produce many solar panels here in Australia. Now, just a couple of weeks ago, we launched our Solar Sunshot Program and that's about producing solar panels here with an advance in technology, using science, essentially using copper as the agent rather than aluminium. And that produces a much more efficient solar panel and we can make them here in Australia. It's just one example of if we seize the opportunities that are there, we can really benefit Australia. In Gladstone just this week, we had electrolysers launched on Monday, now we can produce green aluminium and green steel here in Australia as well. That's again an example of the opportunity that's there for us. There is a global competition on at the moment. We don't want the old protectionism. This is about the new competition for jobs and opportunity and we want to be in it to win it.
JONES: Look, you know, we've obviously got the resources here in this country and instead of sending those resources overseas, the value adding should be occurring here in Australia. But I guess it begs the question, I mean, how competitive can we really be, though, compared to say a lot of the Asian countries?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we can be competitive because one of the things that's happened in the global economy, since the seventies and eighties, when we saw Australian jobs leave our shores because of cheaper labour, is that if you look at the production process, labour's a far less as a proportion of the cost of production than it used to be with mechanisation that has occurred. So it means that areas like transport, access to resources, proximity, is much more important, much more a significant proportion of the cost of production. So that in Queensland you have there copper, lithium, nickel, vanadium, all of the things that will power this century. And it makes far more sense to actually advance those issues, to value add here, including the potential for a green hydrogen industry and then to just export the resources, wait for the jobs and the value added to happen overseas and then import it back at far greater value. That makes no sense. And that's why we have a comparative advantage and we can, I think, compete with the rest of the world and win. And what's more, there's a link here with our national security as well. We need to be more resilient as an economy, less dependent upon trade, because if there are trade and things that we absolutely need to continue to operate, if there is a rupture in our trade, then it leaves us very vulnerable. And that's one of the lessons of the pandemic as well. So, we're talking about not just green metals, we're talking about things like pharmaceuticals and other production as well that we need to manufacture more of here so that we're a more resilient economy.
JONES: Australians have long lamented the loss of so many industries, but bringing them back, and I guess using that more competitive and cost effective workforce as a result of that mechanisation, it does make a lot of sense. And I believe you'll be doing a presentation to the Queensland Media Club this morning. And certainly I think it's something that is really important for Australia, that diversification of industry as well. Can we talk about some bigger picture concerns? And you were talking about your role as Prime Minister. Even today, there's a brand new film releasing, it's called Civil War. It was actually made before the 2020 US elections, but it contemplates the real possibility that civil war may come to the US, regardless of who may become the next US President. Tensions obviously continuing to escalate right across the world. Just in the last few days, Japan's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida condemned the severe and complex environment in the world, talking about North Korean missiles, the China missiles, Russia, Ukraine, Middle East and East Asia. And he said, that is why Japan has made a decision to fundamentally reinforce the defence capabilities, and we have greatly changed Japan's security policy on these fronts. There's even a call on the front page of the Cairns Post this morning to strengthen, certainly Tindal, Scherger and Curtin. Some real concerns. You know, we are at the precipice of a very difficult ten years, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: We are indeed, and that's why we conducted the Defence Strategic Review. And one of the things that it found was we need to look to our north and make sure that we have an upgrade of our defence force posture in our north, including in those air bases which are there. So, you'll see that increased investment in places like Townsville and in the Northern Territory and in those northern areas of Australia. And you'll see as well, our defence spending will increase to 2.4 per cent of GDP over coming years. We want to make sure that our national security is sound, but we also want to invest in our relationships. We want a peaceful and more secure world. So, we're engaging in a way that is positive and constructive with our allies, but also with other nations in the region as well.
JONES: And, you know, concerningly, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has actually said in the last week quite boldly, that Australia's AUKUS submarines could be used to fight China in a potential war over Taiwan. That's a fairly grim prediction.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we want to make sure that there's peace in the region and we support the status quo in the region. But one way that you ensure that there is peace is by having a strong defence, and we make sure that that is occurring. That's why we've made some difficult decisions about our defence forces. But we're making the right decisions in Australia's national interests, making sure that we have an increase in our capability. But as I said as well, investing in our relationships. You know, we've restored our relationship with our Pacific neighbours. We've engaged with ASEAN where I hosted all of the ASEAN leaders in Melbourne just last month. A very successful forum and meeting that we had as well. I've invited, and had indeed the President of the Philippines, President Marcos, and Prime Minister Marape of Papua New Guinea to address our national parliament. Now that's something that is a first time for both of those nations. It shows that we're looking towards our region, towards our neighbours as well, building those relationships up that are so important.
JONES: And I think with lifting some of the tariffs from China, I guess, that is paving, you know, things forward to a more constructive economic and I guess, personal, between nations relationship. So, it's really important. And look, just on a local note, I can report that things are really starting to look up here in tropical north Queensland with tourism after the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Jasper, the flooding. Still some challenges, but certainly Cape Tribulation opened up after Christmas. So, things are starting to look a little bit brighter here in this part of the world as well.
PRIME MINISTER: That's fantastic news. As you know, I visited there three times and made sure that our support was on the ground there as soon as possible, made sure that those funds were flowing. But what I saw there at Holloways Beach and other places that I visited, up at Wujal Wujal, was at the worst of times, we do see the best of the Australian character. And just a shout out to all those people who helped their neighbours. There were people who were camping on lounge room floors and just opening up their homes to their neighbours at that time of difficulty. And it just showed a great spirit and it's something that your listeners and your region can be really proud of the way that they showed courage and resilience and just old fashioned care and kindness towards their fellow Queenslanders.
JONES: It's the Australian way. Look, on that note, thank you so much for your generous time this morning, always great to talk to you. Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese. Have a great day. Cheers.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah thanks, Murray. Same to you, mate.
