CLINT STANAWAY, HOST: Busy scribbling notes during that segment was the Prime Minister of Australia. He's going to be no doubt baking a cake or two for Halloween. I'm pleased to say.
ALISON PIOTROWSKI, HOST: A bit busy.
PIOTROWSKI: He joins us now from Uluru. PM, what a strange segue, but good morning to you. I hope you got some tips and tricks for Halloween from that.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. I've got to say, the talk about worms and lollies. I was trying to work out what was going on there with no visuals, but all good. Happy Halloween everyone, to all your listeners and families out there. But most importantly here at wonderful, beautiful Uluru. It's 40 years today since Uluru and Kata Tjuta was handed back to Indigenous Australians, to the Anangu people here who have cared for this land for so many countless generations. And it was a great celebration last night and today there'll be further activity with the Governor-General. This behind me here really, I think, touches the hearts of all Australians. It's a symbol of Australia around the world. And it's directly, of course, in the heart of Australia as well.
PIOTROWSKI: A gorgeous visual behind you PM, seeing the beautiful rock there in the red centre. You've been an incredibly busy man this week. That will continue.
PRIME MINISTER: I have.
PIOTROWSKI: Your critical minerals deal, struck with the US last week is aimed at curbing China's dominance of the market. As you head off to Asia this week, are you expecting any blowback from China?
PRIME MINISTER: No, look, we stand up for Australia's national interests. And of course, the critical minerals deal is in Australia's national interest. We want to make sure that we make more things in Australia and that if we can do so in partner with the United States, then that's a great thing. Critical minerals and rare earths are what will power the world in this century, and so they're essential for new technologies, for everything from batteries right through to defence equipment as well. And it is so important. This is a program that could set Australia up for success just as iron ore and our resources have been so important in the last century and will continue to be so this is absolutely critical.
STANAWAY: So you're jumping on a plane to Malaysia shortly, President Trump called on Australia to play a much bigger role among the smaller nations in our in our region. Will you be taking that advice on board, PM?
PRIME MINISTER: That's precisely what we've been doing. We've been deeply engaged with ASEAN. We brought all of the Southeast Asian nations to Australia, to Melbourne last March. Every single one of the leaders came. It was such a successful forum celebrating 50 years of the relationship with ASEAN that Australia has. We're engaged with Pacific Island Forum, and it's one of the pillars of our policy is that regional engagement is so important. Just to our north is, of course, the fastest growing region of the world in human history. And why should we be involved? Because it means jobs and economic activity in Australia. So whether it's our economic activity, whether it is our national security, we're very engaged in this region. And of course, our traditional partners like the United States and the UK will remain very important. But the treaty, for example, that we inked with Papua New Guinea just a couple of weeks ago, that's the first new alliance that Australia has had since 1951. And it is so important. And I know it was welcomed by the United States, but also welcomed by our neighbours in the region.
PIOTROWSKI: Prime Minister, I know you said all was well and good between Kevin Rudd and Donald Trump by the end of your visit last week, but the US President seems to have backtracked overnight. Let's hear from him.
[GRAB] PRESIDENT TRUMP: I think he said a long time ago something bad, you know, when they when they say bad about me, I don't forget.
PIOTROWSKI: I don't know if you could hear that PM over the whirring of Marine One. But he did say he doesn't forget. Do you need to sub Kevin Rudd out?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
STANWAY: Okay. There you go. Short and sharp.
PIOTROWSKI: You think that he's got that –
PRIME MINISTER: Simple. Well, well, it's a trivia. And frankly it says more about the journo than it does, who asks the question, more than anything else. I was in the room. It was fine. And then we were - I was in the Oval Office as well, with the President and Kevin Rudd. Look, this is an important relationship. And the visit last week was an enormous success. The relationship that I have with President Trump is very strong. That's important because it's in Australia's national interest. And it was a great success. I enjoyed spending almost three hours with the President last week. We got big things done. We got AUKUS cemented in and perhaps even brought forward some of that investment. He commended us on the work that we're doing in the region. We put to bed some of the questions that have been raised over defence as well. And of course, the critical minerals deal is a big advance for Australia. That's the focus and focus of substance. I'm not worried about the trivia.
STANAWAY: Any chatter PM about who might be taking on the gig as potential US Ambassador to Australia. You know, we've had a Kennedy. Could we have a Trump junior or an Ivanka or something similar?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we will wait and see. That, of course, is a decision for the United States of America. So, we'll wait and see. Whoever it is, we’ll build a good relationship. Because this is about a relationship between two nations, two partners. And we have such a great history going forward.
PIOTROWSKI: Well, Donald Trump did indicate that he wanted you to be happy with whoever it is. So we wait with bated breath. PM, finally, you're going to be jumping on the plane today. What band will you be repping this time?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll wait and see. We, of course I'd been on a 29 hour flight. We had an emergency stop because of something that happened on the plane. And I asked the journos at the back, is anyone going to be filming us getting off the plane? And of course they weren't. And I don't know about you guys, but after a 29 hour flight, do you guys put a suit and tie on? Like I do if I'm repping, or if I’ve got an interview at the end –
PIOTROWSKI: No, you –
STANAWAY: You should see what I look like when I get off a plane.
PRIME MINISTER: I'll wait and see. But I've got, I have a vast collection of band shirts, I assure you.
PIOTROWSKI: Look, look, we love a little bit of Love Will Tear Us Apart, PM, but, you know, maybe some Midnight Oil, maybe a Kylie shirt?
STANAWAY: Jessica Mauboy.
PIOTROWSKI: Oh, yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: I don't know what I've got in the in the bag. I think I've got a King Stingray shirt in my pack as well.
STANAWAY: Very good.
PRIME MINISTER: I wear, I wear band shirts all the time when I can. These days - I've got to say one of the downsides - I'm much more comfortable in a South Sydney shirt or a band shirt and jeans than I am in a suit and tie, I've got to say.
PIOTROWSKI: Keeping it real.
PRIME MINISTER: But yeah, it's part of the job. As I spend my life in a suit and tie, I'm quite glad to be here in, in Uluru, where it's completely acceptable to just wear a polo and some jeans. I've got to say, I'm battling the flies.
STANAWAY: Yeah, good, good luck with those guys, PM.
PIOTROWSKI: Alright, rock on PM.
PRIME MINISTER: They are very busy and there's a lot of them.
STANAWAY: Hey safe travels PM thanks for being with us on Today.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you so much.
PIOTROWSKI: All right. Thank you, Prime Minister.