KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: For more we're joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in New York. PM, good morning to you. Good to have you coming this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning.
STEFANOVIC: Look, 25 Republicans say recognising Palestine is reckless policy that rewards terrorism and you risk retaliation. Are you ready for the blowback?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is in Australia's national interest, but importantly as well, it is a step forward for all those who want to see peace and security in the Middle East. Australia has had a bipartisan position for two states for a long period of time. And of course, when the United Nations here founded and advanced the State of Israel being formed, they envisaged two states at that time, a State of Israel and the State of Palestine, side by side in peace and security, ensuring prosperity for both Israelis and Palestinians.
SARAH ABO, HOST: But PM, you are doing this in the US with the hopes of meeting with the US President. And when Republicans come out and say that this is the wrong call, doesn't that hurt your chances of securing a sit down with Donald Trump?
PRIME MINISTER: No, not at all. Look, it's not surprising that some people will have different views. Some people in Australia will have different views. People in Israel have different views on the Middle East as well. What's very clear is that now almost 80 years of conflict is 80 years too long. Enough is enough. We must end the cycle of violence. The terrorist atrocities, of course, that occurred by Hamas on October 7, ensure and underline why Hamas can play no role in the future Palestinian state. But just as the Jewish people have a homeland in Israel, Palestinians have a legitimate aspiration for their own homeland as well. And we need to end the cycle of violence. We need to move forward constructively and that's what Australia, in conjunction with Canada and the United Kingdom today, but other nations tomorrow, including France, will join the declaration, joining the 147 countries of the UN's 193 who have already recognised Palestine for a long period of time. People are looking at what is going on –
STEFANOVIC: So, how do you ensure Hamas has no role in governing Palestine? You can't possibly do that, can you?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, of course you can, Karl, as a precondition of moving forward, which is what we have said we've recognised Palestine, but further diplomatic measures will be dependent upon the commitments that have been given. And importantly here, I think the biggest step forward towards peace was the statements by the Arab League, 22 nations saying that they wanted to move forward, that Hamas needed to be disarmed and play no role in a future Palestinian State. Also, the recognition of Israel will be important as well, so that Israel can live in peace and security. That's a precondition for justice for Palestinians. But we need to just end this cycle of violence that's gone on for far too long. Too many Israelis and Palestinians have lost their lives.
ABO: I guess the question is though, does this achieve that, though? I mean, obviously everyone wants to end the bloodshed in Palestine. I mean, more than 60,000 people have been killed there. So, when you look at ending that, the reality on the ground is that hasn't changed and it's unlikely to change with Israel currently undertaking a ground offensive there.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is the world saying that what is going on in Gaza is completely unacceptable as well. You can't have a circumstance where people have been denied essential food and water and medicines. You can't have the number of civilian deaths that we've seen. And the terrible, catastrophic humanitarian crisis that is evolving in Gaza is not acceptable to the world. And it's important that we're able to speak up, just as people in Israel are speaking up, of course, as well.
ABO: All right. I mean, as you know, the US is so closely aligned with Israel, so unless they do something, and nothing's likely to change, but in terms of our position, what follows now? Do you have an Ambassador to Palestine? Do you draw up the borders? How does it all look?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, they're all determined, those further steps are determined on the moves going forward, including the commitments that have been given by the Palestinian Authority, that Hamas play no role, that there be reform in areas such as education going forward, that there'd be a demilitarisation as well of a future Palestinian State. All of these measures are important. But at the same time, what the world is saying, whether it be the humanitarian catastrophe that's unfolding in Gaza or the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, the violence that's occurring against ordinary people, people who aren't picking a fight with anyone, people who are getting on with their lives, having the expansion of settlements which are illegal, occurring in the West Bank. We need a better way, a better path. And that is what advanced economies are saying. You've had just today, New York time, three countries, three of the Five Eyes; Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, all come to a joint position and do this declaration simultaneously as well in order to send that very strong message about the values that we hold. We want Israelis to be able to live in peace and security. We want them not to have ongoing threats from Hamas or from their neighbours. But we also want to see Palestinians be able to aspire to live in peace and security. At the moment, the conditions that are there in Gaza are catastrophic. We need a better way. And that is what the world is saying.
STEFANOVIC: All right, so in terms of this meeting with Donald Trump, it's been 300 plus days. You can guarantee that, a rolled gold guarantee that you'll be meeting him in the next couple of days, yeah?
PRIME MINISTER: We’ll wait and see, Karl. You know, it's a busy time here. I've had good discussions with President Trump and one of the things about the United States’ position and President Trump's position is that he consistently is an advocate for peace rather than war. He's made that clear going forward as well. So, I look forward - I'll be seeing him tomorrow night at the event that he is hosting that I've been invited to. We will sit down at some stage and have a face to face meeting. Obviously, the President is at Charlie Kirk's memorial service today and that is a sad day for all those who loved Charlie Kirk. I think that the grieving that is occurring as a result of that tragedy is a difficult day for many people here in America.
STEFANOVIC: Alright, so it's a big night tomorrow night. What's your opening line to the President?
PRIME MINISTER: That's Tuesday night. It's Sunday. It's still Sunday here. Pleased to meet you. It'll be the opening one. I'm sure it'll be returned as well.
ABO: You got nothing better than that?
PRIME MINISTER: It'll be returned as well. Look, we've had four really constructive discussions. And you know, I engage with people as human beings across the board. I engage in the same way that I engage with you from time to time. That's the way that Australians relate to other people, whether they be people on the street, or people who are world leaders. We engage. We're friendly, we say what we think, but we also stand up for our national interest. And that's my job, is to stand up and speak for Australia's national interest. That's what I'll be doing with a range of world leaders. I just came from a meeting with the King of Jordan. There will be a range of meetings this week.
STEFANOVIC: Alright, that's a very Albo greeting, pleased to meet you, President.
ABO: Not even a G’day, I mean.
PRIME MINISTER: G'day, how you going?
STEFANOVIC: I love it. Thanks very much, PM. Appreciate your time.