HEATHER RIDOUT, CONSUL-GENERAL IN NEW YORK: It's great to have you all in New York. You don't come here enough, actually. But anyway, it's my real pleasure to introduce our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who's also coming to New York for the first time since I've been Consul-General and Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen. We both ruminate about the days when we did instruct Australia and Skills Australia, but with both these ministers and then the agenda that they both set out for Australia today that’s so ambitious, and it's really at the core of what contemporary Australia is all about; renewable energy, the future, taking advantage of opportunities, getting that balance between risk and opportunity right. And it's so exciting, and I think it's extremely well received by the people in the room. So I’ll hand over to our Prime Minister and to Minister Bowen. Thank you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Heather. And thank you for your ongoing service to Australia. A fine appointment, I must say, as Consul-General here in New York. And it is fantastic that people who've made a strong contribution to public or private sector activity in Australia are prepared to represent our nation overseas. And what Heather brings, of course, to New York, is that breadth of knowledge across the private sector and the engagement, and the fact that there are so many serious business leaders here at this forum is, in part, a tribute, no doubt, to Heather's connections and the work that she's doing here. But also, it's a tribute to Australia and the fact that we are a great destination for capital and increasingly, we have real opportunities going forward as well. I do want to thank Macquarie as well for hosting this event, a fantastic Australian company and a great Australian success story. Wherever you go around the world, Macquarie has a presence, and they employ Australians around the world, and they engage in investment and are great representatives of Australia. Australia is, of course, a great trading nation. We believe in free and fair trade. We're open for business, and we want more capital investing, because that means more jobs created in Australia. And what today is about as well, is the opportunities that are there. As I said, to the potential business investors downstairs. We have all the things that you will be looking for if you are trying to make up what are the ideal attributes that make you an attractive investment destination. There, having the right resources under the ground, in the sky that will power the world, the global economy in the 21st century. They're a good, skilled workforce. They're a solid legal and political system. They are, a belief in free and fair trade and the rule of law. So we are, I think, increasingly an attractive destination. The fact that you have CEOs of major companies like Goldman Sachs and others represented downstairs says something about that. My Government's Future Made in Australia agenda is about making more things in Australia, taking up, seizing the opportunities which are there right before us as we go forward. And today is about showcasing what an attractive investment location Australia is. We'll host a forum in November as well with potential investors in Australia. This is one of the things that came out of the Economic Roundtable that Jim Chalmers hosted just a month ago. Our Future Made in Australia agenda aims to maximise the opportunities as we move towards Net Zero, to secure Australia's place in a changing global environment and to create jobs, put simply, and to continue to see our economy grow. If you look at the global economy, we are in a very strong position. We have a AAA credit rating from all three agencies. We've had consistent economic growth each and every quarter. We have inflation that's down to just over 2 per cent. We have unemployment, which is low at 4.2 per cent. And we have an economy that's seeing real wages growing. We're seeing interest rates decreasing, and we're seeing Australia be in a very strong position. And today I wanted to seize the opportunity of being here in New York for the United Nations to make sure that we were able to present the positive story to the businesses here. And it was a fantastic turn up. We're going to go back and continue to talk with the businesses after this press conference as well. But thank you very much to Heather and the Australian Embassy and Consulate staff for organising today. I'll go to Minister Bowen, then we're happy to take some questions.
CHRIS BOWEN, MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY: Thanks, Prime Minister. Well, last week, the Prime Minister and I released an emissions reduction target, which we said was ambitious and achievable, but is also investable. And that's been the very strong feedback from investors here in New York, with whom I've met this week, who are excited about the investment opportunities in Australia's energy transition. And as the Prime Minister said, we just met with a whole bunch who either are investing in Australia, or who are now planning on investing in Australia, And our whole policy setting when it comes to energy and climate is about a welcoming, stable, warm policy environment for investors who help us reduce emissions and reduce bills, and whether it is large scale utility, or working as an entrepreneur in the transition, which in Australia runs through houses on rooftops and garages, with our highest rooftop solar penetration in the world, and now 1,000 Australians a day, hitting 65,000 now today, home batteries installed. There's a lot of interest and excitement in Australia. Our target has been noticed by governments around the world who've told us that they're impressed, and it's been noticed even more importantly, by investors around the world, who told me it is investable. It is a guide to what the Australian Government can see as the opportunities, because it's realistic, because it's not something which they regard as too ambitious, but because it is ambitious enough, it is regarded as a very strong investment signal to help us meet our targets. The private sector is raring to go, so it's been great to be here with the Prime Minister this week to progress that conversation with governments and investors around the world.
JOURNALIST: You’re on about renewables today, on a day that Donald Trump has told the UN General Assembly – you’re about the meet Donald Trump next month – but he’s told the UN General Assembly that climate change isn’t real and renewables are a con job. What are you going to say to Donald Trump about renewables and climate change?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, my job is to be the Australian Prime Minister and to seize the opportunities that are there for Australia. And Australia has a challenge of climate change, but we also have an opportunity to benefit our economy, to grow jobs. We certainly are embarking on that, and we have a positive, constructive agenda.
JOURNALIST: Are you glad that the meeting at the White House is locked in, and do you look forward to it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course, as I’ve said, President Trump agreed to a meeting some time ago. We had another chat about it on the phone, and we’ll have a meeting in Washington DC on October 20.
JOURNALIST: Chris, in your speech downstairs you referenced the desirability in terms of investment of the COP Summit. Both of you have been working on that this week. It isn’t likely you’ll break the impasse this week. Can you tell us where we’re up to on that?
MINISTER BOWEN: On the discussions is where we are up to. The situation remains the same. The support for Australia internationally is overwhelming, absolutely overwhelming, of the 28 members of our group, at least 23 support our group, our bid, as I’ve said before. But the COP process does work for consensus. That’s why I’ve had good and positive conversations with Türkiye, and when there’s more to say, we’ll say.
JOURNALIST: Can I ask one on that too, Minister Bowen? Do you think if Australia does get COP, that we will be able to secure Xi Jinping and Donald Trump’s attendance?
MINISTER BOWEN: Well, let’s just focus on the bid first. World leaders attend COPs in various forms, in various, you know, opportunities. Every COP is different.
JOURNALIST: Sorry, just to follow up on that. Sorry, I guess what I’m asking is, is it worth hosting COP at all if those two don't attend?
MINISTER BOWEN: Absolutely. The COP is the biggest trade fair in the world, and with all due respect, trade in trade and investment decisions are made by a lot of people, not just world leaders. They're made by chief executives, chairs, board members, investment directors. We do want a very investment focused COP on investing in Australia's renewable energy superpower, as well as lifting the agenda of the Pacific, whose, the very existence of several countries is at stake. They're our two key objectives, hosting the COP in Adelaide. With all due respect to world leaders, having investors and board directors and ministers there will be a very, very big step forward for our country.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you sat through the, Donald Trump’s 57 minute address this morning. You got to hear his views of the world. What in his speech did you like or agree with?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm not a commentator. I'll leave that to you and the columnists. But it was great privilege to be at the United Nations this morning, to hear President Trump and other leaders, the Secretary General of the United Nations and others put forward their perspectives. I’ll be putting forward Australia's perspective tomorrow night, and I very much look forward to it. It's an incredible honour to represent Australia here. It was an honour to speak yesterday. It's quite an extraordinary room. I haven't been to the United Nations before, and it was a privilege to be there.
JOURNALIST: In your phone conversation with Donald Trump, did he commit to selling Australia the nuclear powered submarines? Or do you need to lock in support for AUKUS when you go to Washington?
PRIME MINISTER: What I do is have discussions with President Trump that are diplomatic and where we have discussions with each other. I don't broadcast everything. I broadcast what we what we agreed to. That's the way I've dealt with President Trump, respectfully, and that's how I deal with other world leaders.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, [inaudible].
PRIME MINISTER: Look, we determine - we're a sovereign nation, and we'll determine our position, and we're driven here by something that is necessary. It's something that we have a mandate for. On December 10, I think it's the right date, that it clicks in one year after the legislation was passed on a bipartisan basis through the Parliament. Tomorrow morning, we'll hear from Emma, who lost a child. That will be a powerful moment here, and there will be other leaders as well, will attend that forum. This is something that Australian parents, Australian families, and I think young people as well, overwhelmingly want to see.
JOURNALIST: Does it make a difference to you that the Trump meeting will happen in Washington and not just on the sidelines of a summit? And secondly, will it be hard to justify the third trip to the United States for you in four months?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I've been to the United States now, to San Francisco, San Diego, Philadelphia, Washington, Seattle, here. So it will be my seventh visit to the United States as Prime Minister. The United States is an important relationship for us, and today, the meetings, as I foreshadowed, in spite of some of the commentary, as I foreshadowed, if people listen to what we say, we had agreed on a meeting. And today, the meetings that President Trump are having - he's in New York for one day - are understandably focused on peace in the Middle East. So there's a meeting with the Middle East countries, Saudis, etc., but also Indonesia and some of the largely, large Muslim population countries as well, Muslim majority countries. That is obviously leading into the meeting that will be held later this week, with Prime Minister Netanyahu. And in addition to that, there's a meeting with President Zelenskyy. I'll be attending the forum that we were, with President Trump, that he's hosting later today. And that is exactly what we expected, and that's what we told people was going to happen.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, President Trump said that renewables are a joke. Green energy is a scam. Wind turbines are pathetic and climate change is the greatest con job perpetrated on the world. Is it an obligation on you to actually counteract some of that language? We hear it in Australia as well. Could it effect investment and public perception in Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't know if you saw downstairs - there's a room full of people wanting to invest, downstairs, right now. My job is to represent Australia's national interest. President Trump gave a speech. He's entitled to give that speech and to put his views. I don't think that if there are any views that he hasn't said before.
JOURNALIST: Just on that, Prime Minister, do you hope to meet with President Erdoğan? Would you make the case for the Pacific as a co-host of the COP?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Pacific is important. The point here is, one of the things that's complicated is that it's a joint bid by Australia and the Pacific. So any arrangements that have come to, we will discuss with our Pacific neighbours, as we have been. I've already had discussions with a range of the Pacific leaders who are here as well. I will be having discussions with President Erdoğan as well. I’ve had a short discussion with the Foreign Minister as well, and my Ministers and Turkish Ministers are having those discussions.
JOURNALIST: When’s that meeting?
PRIME MINISTER: They're having discussions constructively. We don't give out all of the details of timing of meetings that occur, because what I do is engage diplomatically with respect, and I must say that that is the way I deal with things across the board.
JOURNALIST: With the gathering today, are you actively trying to bring investment from the US or even Europe, you know, given Trump’s ‘green scam’ language, attract investment from the US to Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: We're trying to attract investment from range of nations. The US is an important investor in Australia. Our two way trading relationship is substantial. US enjoys a trade surplus with Australia. Increasingly, we're seeing increased investment from Australia, particularly from superannuation funds here, but it's also two way investment. I've spoken with three different companies downstairs who've established offices in the last few months, since our election in May. That's a good thing. I just spoke to someone who's employed ten people in Sydney and are going to employ ten more between now and Christmas. That's a great thing. We want investment.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, during the election campaign, you said on the Seven debate that Donald Trump didn’t have a mobile. Since then, we’ve seen –
PRIME MINISTER: I did not say that. I did not say that. Don’t verbal me.
JOURNALIST: Well, what do you think you said?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I didn’t say that. But anyway, keep going. If I did, it’s called a joke. Humour.
JOURNALIST: Oh, you were joking?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, obviously, obviously, he has a mobile and anyone who actually saw the context would know that.
JOURNALIST: Yeah. Okay, cool, thank you. So –
PRIME MINISTER: You don’t ring – the point I was making was between leaders of nations, you organise phone calls. You have note takers. You do it in rooms where mobiles aren’t allowed. That’s the point. That’s the way that you deal between the United States President and the Australian Prime Minister.
JOURNALIST: And that’s what I wanted to ask you about, because last night, we saw Emmanuel Macron pull out his phone and call the President direct. Keir Starmer, your other good friend in Europe, has also talked about texting Trump directly. Do you have Trump’s number yet? Do you, do you contact him personally?
PRIME MINISTER: I don’t go into any of those details.
JOURNALIST: No, no, no – but isn’t your failure to do the same why we’ve had to wait so long for a first face to face between you and the President?
PRIME MINISTER: No, it’s not.
JOURNALIST: The President, just in the last couple of hours, the President, President Trump, the last couple of hours, seemed to have a bit of a mea culpa on Ukraine. He said that his friendship with Putin doesn’t seem to have come to anything, and he now thinks that Ukraine can fight and win back all this territory. Do you believe that mea culpa? And what do you make of that?
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry, I haven’t seen those comments, and I don’t comment on the basis of –
JOURNALIST: What about your –
PRIME MINISTER: I don’t comment – our position on Ukraine is clear. What I don’t do is comment on things I haven’t seen. I’ve obviously been in meetings.
JOURNALIST: Will Ambassador Rudd attend the White House meeting?
PRIME MINISTER: I assume so. That’s what happens.
JOURNALIST: Just back on COP, just for clarity – are you confident, or not confident, you’ll have a resolution by the end of this week?
PRIME MINISTER: We don’t know, that’s the truth. We’re working through, but it requires a consensus, it’s not something - I’m confident that is there was a vote, that we would have majority support.
JOURNALIST: Can you sort of give us a hint what the deal is?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
JOURNALIST: Are you concerned that Donald Trump might whack you with the White House like he’s done to other leaders, and several leaders –
PRIME MINISTER: We have a good relationship. We’ve had respectful calls. Australia and the United States are great partners. I expect it to be very constructive.
JOURNALIST: Are we still looking for tariff relief, or are we accepting the ten per cent baseline?
PRIME MINISTER: What we do is we have meetings, and we have them respectfully, and that means not foreshadowing everything we have in meetings at press conferences.
JOURNALIST: There’s been a lot of discussion in America over the last 24 hours about paracetamol and whether it should be used and whether it could be dangerous. We expect some Australians might be worried about that and whether should use paracetamol. What can you say to Australians about that?
PRIME MINSTER: Well, we have our own TGA, which gives our advice on health issues.
JOURNALIST: Your UN address tomorrow, what’s the main point you want to get across about Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: That we're a country that punches above our weight. We're a middle power. We are players in the world. We have an international outlook, and we're a country that engages respectfully with our partners as well. And I think the way that we deal in our region as well, we are a middle power globally, but in our region, in the Pacific and in ASEAN, we’re significant, and we engage, and my Government is forward leaning in engaging with our neighbours. Thanks very much.