The Prime Minister's landmark defence deal with Papua New Guinea seems to have hit a last minute snag.
SARAH ABO, HOST: To discuss, the PM joins us live now from Port Moresby. Prime Minister, good to see you. So, do we have a deal or not?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. We certainly do, and PNG, of course, as a sovereign nation, are just going through their processes and that's appropriate. Today is a massive celebration here. Fifty years since the Australian flag was lowered and the flag of Papua New Guinea raised. So, that's very significant. In a lot of places, of course, flags are torn down when you have the birth of a new country. This was a peaceful transition. And ever since then, of course, before then, during and after, Australia and Papua New Guinea are the best of friends. And this is a wonderful celebration here of a country that is diverse, more than a thousand tribes, 800 languages here in PNG. And so the fact that democracy has not only survived but it's thrived is something that is a great credit to the foresight of people like Mr Somare and other independent advocates. And also I think, a credit to the legacy of Australia. Gough Whitlam's vision in supporting independence for PNG. It's been a very important and significant day.
STEFANOVIC: Just to confirm, PM, the deal is done though, right? Because there were concerns over sovereignty or is China, is that playing a role here like it did in Vanuatu? You're absolutely confident this deal is going to get done?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, it will get done. It has a very strong support of the government. They go through, remember, one of the things that happened was with their Cabinet, of course, because of the celebrations, the Cabinet didn't have quorum yesterday because people are going back to all over PNG for these celebrations. Indeed, my Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, is in Lae at the moment with his counterpart, the second biggest city up in the north of PNG. This is a celebration that is massive and right across this great country.
ABO: Okay, so there's nothing to be read into there about them perhaps not finding a chord when it comes to this deal? I mean, what happens, for example, let's say the deal goes ahead, what happens if PNG does come under attack? They're obviously worried about Indonesia, which is a significant concern of theirs. What are our obligations?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the idea that PNG would come under attack and we'd sit back and watch, of course, is something that wouldn't happen anyway, given how close our ties have been over such a period of time. Remember this, during World War II of course, where this was under the Australian flag, the Kokoda Track, though I had the great honour of walking last year with Prime Minister Marape. During that period, it was PNG citizens there in the highlands who helped our diggers. When you walk that track, you really feel how significant it is and just you're in awe of the Australian soldiers, men and women, who not just survived what was incredibly difficult terrain, but under fire, the diseases that were there, and they couldn't have done it without the support of PNG. And so, look, we have a great relationship and this will just take it to the next level.
STEFANOVIC: All right, so just to confirm, if PNG is in a stink with Indonesia, we'll come to PNG's rescue. How's that going to go down in Indonesia?
PRIME MINISTER: Indonesia has, of course, been consulted on this. And, you know, PNG and Indonesia have a good relationship. The Vice President of Indonesia is here, I was sitting next to him today and we had a great chat. And the relationship is strong. We recognise Indonesia's sovereignty and Papua New Guinea's sovereignty as well.
ABO: Okay PM, let's come back home now. We wanted to ask you about ANZ. They have been handed a $240 million fine, the largest in ASIC's history, after charging fees to dead people, misleading customers and ignoring people in financial hardship. How are they still trading?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's a shocker, isn't it? And they've been hit with this massive fine, as they should have been. We expect corporate Australia to do the right thing by the customers. Quite clearly, that hasn't happened. And this shows ASIC, the cop on the beat, if you like, taking strong action as is appropriate.
STEFANOVIC: Do you bank with them?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don't. Although I have in the past at various times.
STEFANOVIC: Will the government stop doing business with the ANZ, trading government bonds? I mean, they make millions out of it.
PRIME MINISTER: Look, those are decisions for Treasury and Finance. We want ANZ to be successful. We want Australian companies to be successful. We don't want them shut down - that means a loss of jobs. What we want is companies to be successful, but we want them to operate within the law and to respect their customers. And that's what hasn't happened here, which is why they've been hit with this massive fine.
ABO: Well, they've cut jobs and they've got record profits, but let's see whether this fine makes a difference. There is criticism, PM, this morning about vacating your electoral office in Marrickville, that it sets somehow a cowardly precedent. This is about the safety of your staff. They don't feel safe.
PRIME MINISTER: It's about the safety of my staff. It's about residents not being able to get service on social security, Medicare, NDIS, on those issues. People if they're being abused, when they're just ordinary citizens, vulnerable people are the ones who need services in electorate offices. This isn't a political office, it's not running Middle East policies - what it's doing is helping people. And I think the self-indulgence of people who've engaged in abuse of staff, abuse of people attending church services, the blocking of a car park. I think you might have been to my office there, Karl.
STEFANOVIC: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: You have indeed. Well, you'd know that the car park is shared, it's basically a part of the church. And the Anglican Church have been great landlords for a long period of time, it's not surprising that the lease hasn't been continued. We'll find another one and will continue to service people.
STEFANOVIC: The protesters say they'll just target the next one. So are you fixing the problem or just shifting it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that shows how self-indulgent they are, frankly. It's up to them to argue how the cause that they purport to support is advanced by disrupting Mr and Mr Smith or Mr and Mr Panopoulos asking for help on social security or people with disabilities seeking support for their child. This is just absurd. It's self-indulgent. If they want to protest, go to Parliament House in Canberra. Protest outside and engage in that. Otherwise it's just self-indulgence and it says more about them than it does about the cause.
ABO: Well, they're doing that as well. All right, PM, you are a very busy man. You're in Port Moresby now, New York next. Have you finally pinned down the President for a face-to-face?
PRIME MINISTER: We'll see what happens there, but I'm looking forward to going to New York.
ABO: So that's a no?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I'm looking forward to going to New York to address the United Nations. We've got some really important events there as well, including on our social media ban for under 16s. That, of course, is receiving a lot of global coverage now and the decision by the European Union to follow Australia's leadership there is very significant indeed.
STEFANOVIC: Look, PM just before you go, I'm looking forward to later in the day, hopefully we're going to see you in one of those very cool shirts that you get up on and in when you're overseas.
ABO: Get the colour right this time, PM.
PRIME MINISTER: Well it was black tie last night, and I was one of the few people who was wearing black tie.
ABO: Well done.
PRIME MINISTER: These things happen. I do my best. Karl, you're a bloke who wore the same suit for two years, I recall.
STEFANOVIC: Yeah, yeah, it was to make a point.
PRIME MINISTER: So you're not in a position to sledge anybody
ABO: Now I'm wearing it, Albo. He's handed it over to me.
PRIME MINISTER: But Sarah always outdoes you when it comes to the fashion stakes.
STEFANOVIC: That's true.
ABO: We've got that on the record now. Thanks, PM.
STEFANOVIC: Go well, PM. Appreciate your time. Thank you.
