ANDREW CLENNELL, HOST: Your decision to recognise Palestine with the UK and Canada has made headlines here in the US today. Do you concede there's a chance it makes no difference to achieving peace, or even backfires? For example, Israel could annex the West Bank or take some sort of action.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: No, I don't. This is a positive move forward and what it indicates is a signal that the world is getting together and saying, enough is enough. We need to end the cycle of violence. It won't just be the three countries that have recognised today, in unison. It will be other countries as well tomorrow afternoon.
CLENNELL: Is there a next step if it doesn't work, is there something else you've discussed with the other world leaders?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there's a lot of discussion about what a peace plan looks like in the short term. Of course that means a ceasefire, it means the release of hostages. It means an end to the hostilities that are having such a catastrophic humanitarian impact on people in Gaza, as well as of course we want to see the hostages released. For their families, it's been an awful two years having to deal with that as well. But it also signals that the world wants to move forward, they understand that we can't just continue to have a cycle of violence with wars, with conflict, with ongoing insecurity. And that's why I think the real breakthrough was the Arab League decision condemning the 7 October atrocities, saying that Hamas could have no role in the future state of Palestine and also recognising that Israel has a right to exist and that that would be a part of moving forward in a constructive way.
CLENNELL: Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't seem to be listening to it, if you're trying to put pressure on him. He's called it an absurd prize for terrorism. What do you make of those comments?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, he of course has a view but he doesn't speak for every Israeli. And we know that Israel is a democratic country and that around Israel there have been so many who have demonstrated in the tens, indeed hundreds of thousands of people who want an end to the conflict. And what needs to happen of course, is there needs to be some surety for security of Israel going forward. But there also needs to be the recognition that the Palestinians have legitimate aspirations for their own homeland. So, just as the Jewish people have a homeland in Israel, Palestinian people have a right to aspire and indeed to realise a homeland for them.
CLENNELL: We've had this threat in terms of a letter from congressmen saying you and other countries that do this may face punitive measures because of the recognition. Surely this means tariffs. Are you concerned about that?
PRIME MINISTER: No, look, Australia will always act in our own interests and in what we see as our role in the world in accordance with our values. And I think Australians back home want to see the killing stop, whether it be Israelis or Palestinians. They don't want conflict brought to Australia and they want Australia to play a positive and constructive role. We played a role in the creation of the State of Israel. Doc Evatt was the first vote that was passed, indeed, at the United Nations to create or recognise that state. But at that time, of course it was envisaged that there would be two states. There's been a bipartisan position for almost 80 years for a two-state solution. What we have done in recognising Palestine is to make the logical next step, because the two states, one of them is Israel, one of them is Palestine.
CLENNELL: Are you definitely not having a formal bilat with Donald Trump this week?
PRIME MINISTER: No, we'll wait and see, but I won't be pre-empting those issues. We, of course – I look forward to meeting with President Trump at some stage. We've had four constructive discussions. I'll see him tomorrow night at the function that he's hosting.
CLENNELL: You're meeting the Turkish leader, Erdoğan, trying to convince him to pull out of the process for holding the COP. Would we be offering Turkey any sort of financial incentive, do you think, to pull out?
PRIME MINISTER: There clearly will need to be some compromise on both sides in order to move forward. I don't want to pre-empt those discussions. If it is not agreed that one or other country withdraw, and our bid of course is a joint bid with the Pacific, then the default position is the conference goes to Bonn. So, neither Turkey or Australia and the Pacific will host. So, we have reached out, there've been discussions. I previously have had a discussion with President Erdoğan and also his foreign minister, Minister Bowen has had discussions, Minister Wong has had discussions. We're hoping that it can move forward.
CLENNELL: And just finally, what are you hoping to achieve in terms of the social media ban for under sixteens and the forum you're holding here?
PRIME MINISTER: I want to see a greater recognition from countries who are having a look at what Australia has done, the leadership we're providing and are either considering or are definitely joining in. So, people such as the Greek leader, Mitsotakis, will be there, the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, will be there as well. This will be an important event where Australia is showing leadership, but this isn't an issue that's confined to Australia. Parents around the world are concerned about the impact that social media is having on their young ones. And no parent should face the loss of a young child. That unfortunately has happened not just in Australia, but has happened in other jurisdictions as well.