Well, it’s been an absolute privilege to attend the APEC and G20 Leaders’ Meetings, which has had a strong focus on working through what is a global inflation challenge and the implications that are there for people’s living standards, as well as a real focus on the need to have action on climate change. Shortly, I will return to the Australian Parliament and intend to be there sometime on Thursday. The outcomes achieved here are all about jobs and economic activity in Australia. We know that one in four of Australian jobs is trade dependent, and that’s why Australia’s relationships with the world matter. Since I was elected Prime Minister, we’ve improved relations with the Pacific, with ASEAN countries, with India, with China, as well as with our historic allies, the United Kingdom, the United States, but also improved relationships with countries such as France and Germany as well in Europe. At these summits, there are formal occasions, but it’s also an opportunity to develop relationships as I have, with other G20 world leaders. And those relationships do matter for Australia, and it has been good to have a number of formal bilateral meetings as well as the occasions in the leaders lounge and at events such as the informal event hosted last night by Brazil for leaders, their partners and leaders of delegations. I do thank President Lula and Brazil for hosting this G20 Summit. It’s quite a logistical exercise to engage with, and it has been a very successful conference. The fact that you had a communique adopted by the G20, hasn’t always occurred in the past. That has been very positive. Leaders committed to continuing to address cost of living pressures and recognise that global inflation was coming down from elevated levels, however we know that we have more work to do. The presence of institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF and others here was a contributing factor to the broad range of discussions taking place from the top economies of the world. We all reiterated our resolve to work towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and to increasing renewable energy capacity globally. It is notable too that all members of the G20 were able to agree to language on geopolitical issues, including the conflict in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine, which is having a global economic impact as well. We recommitted to advancing the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons as well. In addition to these meetings, we had the second annual Leaders’ Summit with Prime Minister Modi of India. During the Summit, we reinforced the strength of our partnership and discussed our shared priorities in defence, security, climate and energy, trade and our commitment to deeper practical cooperation bilaterally and through the Quad, which India will host next year in 2025. Australia and India have a shared ambition to move faster, work together and deploy our complementary capabilities to drive climate action. And I’m pleased that we were able to launch the India-Australia Renewable Energy Partnership, which will provide the framework for practical cooperation in areas such as solar PV, green hydrogen, energy storage, two way investment in renewable energy projects, but also as well, importantly, upgrading skills and training for the renewables workforce of the future. I look forward to working with Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, who will take on the presidency of the G20 in the next 12 months, and South Africa will, of course, have a close relationship with Australia. There will be a range of meetings across portfolio issues, not just the G20 meeting over the year, and that will provide an opportunity for Australian ministers to advance Australia’s national interest, which has been my focus during these summits.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, do you think the declaration will do enough to Trump proof the global community for any trade or climate action that Mr Trump might take?
PRIME MINISTER: The focus has been the positive agenda that countries have. There’s a recognition that free and fair trade is important for industrialised countries, but it’s also important for developing countries as well. If you look at the contribution of the head of the WTO at this event, she spoke very strongly about the important role that trade has in providing opportunity. It is a catalyst for growth of developing nations. And so it is important, it obviously is important for developed countries like Australia which are industrialised, but it also is a global factor in lifting living standards throughout the world.
JOURNALIST: Do we have a sense of how many Australians could be caught up if that push for a global tax on the uber-wealthy?
PRIME MINISTER: Well look, we will, of course, determine our own policies, but one of the things that was recognised at this Summit was that taxation should be progressive, and something that’s enshrined in the way that Australia determines our taxation system.
JOURNALIST: What role could you see Australia playing on the United Nations Security Council if it was to be reworked?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Australia plays an important role as a trusted nation whose word matters, and one where we seek to develop positive relationships. I’ve said throughout my prime ministership I want to invest in our capability, but also invest in our relationships. And that shows because if you can have conversations with people about trade, about defence cooperation, about dealing with the climate change challenge across our shared values and shared solutions importantly, then that can matter. And so Australia has historically played a role, of course, in the United Nations, going back to the role that Doc Evatt played, a former Labor leader, in the very creation of the United Nations. Australia has participated in various UN forums over a long period of time. And Australia, I think, we punch above our weight as a middle power. We are trusted, and my government is trusted on the global stage as well.
JOURNALIST: If possible, just a couple of questions on India, and Ukraine being the 1,000th day since we’ve seen the Russian invasion of Ukraine. You’ve spoken out here about wanting Mr. Putin to end that invasion. Are you close to making any decisions on the Australian Embassy in Ukraine, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we’re contributing some $1.3 billion when it comes to aid to Ukraine. The latest example is the tanks and other support that we’ve provided. We unequivocally oppose Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion, and Mr. Putin can end this now by just withdrawing to his own borders, which is what should occur. With regard to the Australian embassy, we continue to have a watching brief. We would like to see that reopen, but we take advice based upon ensuring the safety of people who work for the Australian Government. And of course, there is already an Australian presence is able to be in Ukraine serviced by, from outside, but there is a presence there as well.
JOURNALIST: Just lastly, are you concerned that Mr. Modi will host Mr. Putin in New Delhi?
PRIME MINISTER: Mr. Modi and India have a sovereign foreign policy. It’s up to Mr. Modi. Prime Minister Modi will conduct foreign policy as he sees it. What’s important about Australia’s relationship with India is that its constructive and positive, we’re able to talk with each other on a regular basis. We have met face to face now on numerous occasions, and had 10 or 11 formal meetings, as well as the informal discussions that we have. This is a relationship that just gets stronger and stronger, and it’s an important one for Australia. India will be the third largest economy in the world. It has risen up the table very quickly. It’s the largest population in the world, and the achievement in giving people access to power and access to services has been quite extraordinary, the growth. When I first went to India as a backpacker, there certainly wasn’t a metro in Delhi – there is now. And India’s economy continues to grow at high levels, and we continue to develop a positive relationship between our two countries. Thanks very much.
