Sarah Abo:
Good morning to you, Treasurer.
Jim Chalmers:
Morning.
Abo:
So did Australia break its word to the United States when it comes to aluminium exports?
Chalmers:
Not that I’m aware of. But we’re talking here, Sarah, about events from almost a decade ago. Obviously I’ve seen the reports and the summaries today in the Australian media.
But we’re focused on what’s in front of us.
And what Prime Minister Albanese was able to do yesterday was to have a very productive and positive conversation with President Trump, standing up for the industries and workers of this country to see if we can get an exemption from these tariffs.
We don’t take any outcome for granted, but the President did say that he would consider that exemption in recognition of this mutually beneficial economic relationship we have with the Americans.
Karl Stefanovic:
Look, Arthur Sinodinos was on the show earlier, seemed to allude to the fact that we may have broken that agreement. That puts all of this in a very different light if we have. Does it matter to you?
Chalmers:
Well, Arthur would have a better sense of it, as a former Ambassador to the US under a previous government, and that’s when this occurred. There might be people who were around at the time who can give a bit more colour and context to –
Stefanovic:
– but it hasn’t happened under your watch is what we’re asking.
Chalmers:
Not that I’m aware of, no. And obviously I’ve seen the reports, I’ve heard commentary from Malcolm Turnbull and Arthur Sinodinos and others. It was something from a previous Coalition government, it was almost a decade ago.
I think Australians, particularly in the steel and aluminium industries, would expect us to be focused on what’s in front of us and we are. And that’s why that positive and productive conversation that Prime Minister Albanese had with President Trump yesterday is so important.
Abo:
Treasurer, you would know there is obviously a lot on the line, not just our international standing and our relationship with the US, but obviously Aussie jobs as well. I mean if we don’t get this exemption, where does the PM go from here?
Chalmers:
It’s an important industry, I agree with you, and we have been going into bat for the workers and the employers in this industry, very important. It’s complicated a little bit because some of our businesses in this area have also got plants in the US, and some of them have got plants in Canada as well, so it’s complicated a little bit.
But overall I agree with you, very important industry. There is a lot at stake, these are significant developments and that’s why it’s so important that Prime Minister Albanese was able to raise these issues directly with President Trump. It was a very productive conversation. The President did say that he would consider these exemptions. We don’t take any outcome for granted, but good progress was made yesterday.
Stefanovic:
Okay. If the industry means so much to you, and if it does happen, why don’t you just remove the Safeguard Mechanisms or pause them for Aussie producers?
Chalmers:
We deal directly with the industry and with the major employers in this industry on our whole agenda. And what we know is that there is an interest even in the industry for this energy transformation.
I met with senior players from Rio Tinto a couple of days ago, and they’re very interested in the energy transformation when it comes to their smelters. And so I wouldn’t accept this characterisation that says that the energy transformation is in some way, a problem for this industry.
I think the industry, to its credit, has embraced the opportunity of cleaner and cheaper energy, and we’re working with them to deliver it.
Abo:
All right, Treasurer. On another tsunami created by Donald Trump, this morning as we were going to air, the breaking news that he’s doubling down on rebuilding Gaza and moving residents while that process is completed, all apparently under US control. He’s just going to take the Gaza Strip according to him. How does that sit with you?
Chalmers:
I haven’t seen his new comments today. I’ve been speaking with your colleagues and counterparts up and down the Press Gallery hallway here in Canberra.
So I’ll have a look at what he said and I refer you to our earlier comments, including over the weekend. Labor’s position and Australia’s position, bipartisan position, is for a two‑state outcome in the Middle East and some of these comments and proposals would not be consistent with that, but beyond that I refer you to the comments made by my colleagues earlier, and I’ll go through the statements made by President Trump when I get the opportunity.
Stefanovic:
It’s a great big fat wedge though, isn’t it? Are you going to support us here, and then we’ll give back here?
Chalmers:
I’m not sure about that, obviously President Trump has made a number of significant announcements in the last few days; on tariffs, on the future of the Middle East, I’m not pretending otherwise, but I haven’t seen what he’s said today. I’ll go through what he said, and if we get an opportunity to respond in a more considered way, we’ll do that.
Abo:
All right. Well, we basically repeated what he’s already said, so good luck going through that Treasurer and making sense of it. Really appreciate your time this morning.
Chalmers:
Thanks so much.