1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: We know. The Liberal National Coalition has committed to a 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: major biosecurity overhaul in the Northern Territory if it wins 3 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: the federal election. It would include new technology to detect diseases, 4 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: scrapping Labour's fresh food tax, and a review of the 5 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: current operation aiming to stop illegal boats. The Nationals leader 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: David little Proud joins me in the studio. Good morning 7 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: to you, good morning, good to be with you. Yeah, 8 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: good to have you on the show. Yeah, and I 9 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: mean we've obviously I've interviewed you several times and haven't 10 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: had you in the studio before. So it's good to 11 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: see you. I appreciate your time. Now. First off, mate, 12 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: when is this election going to happen? We're all a 13 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: bit over guessing. 14 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, we go back to camera for the budget 15 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 2: on Tuesday. I suspect it'll be the tenth of May. 16 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 2: It will need to be the third or tenth of May. 17 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 2: But the third of May is a long weekend for 18 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,639 Speaker 2: you guys, in for me a Queenslander, So whether that 19 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 2: pushes it back a week to the tenth, I think 20 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 2: we're very close now. Effective. I think people are thinking 21 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 2: of us running around making promises already. 22 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: So I think reading Florida exactly what I reckon Elbow 23 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: is holding off. 24 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 2: Look, that's something only in his mind. I don't want 25 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 2: to pretend to actually be able to understand that. But 26 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,040 Speaker 2: he'll have his own reason. It's at his discretion or 27 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 2: respect that And we're just ready to go. And as 28 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 2: soon as the trig you'll probably see a lot of 29 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 2: policies start to be rolled out very soon. Yeah, from us, 30 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 2: we've been waiting for the starter's gun and that's obviously 31 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 2: about to start. 32 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 1: Very very say, yeah, it can't be far off. Now 33 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: we know that you are indeed in the Northern Territory 34 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: talking biosecurity, a major overhaul. Talk me through the details, 35 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: starting with the new tech for disease detection. 36 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, lumpy skin diseases is something that the territories 37 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 2: at the front line of and literally it can blow 38 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 2: in from insects that have it and then they bite 39 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 2: our cattle. So what we've got to do is try 40 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 2: to be a little bit more productive, and we're going 41 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 2: to do a world first here where what we're going 42 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 2: to put together is two million dollars to catch and 43 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 2: then test the insect rather than waiting for the insect 44 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 2: to bite an animal and then we know there's an 45 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 2: outback because the beast has got it, or actually it 46 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 2: will know it soon if we're testing the insects and 47 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 2: we trap them and then test them, so if you 48 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 2: find a positive case, we know that we've got a 49 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 2: problem there. We can move the cattle out of that 50 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,399 Speaker 2: area immediately and then try to eradicate. So this could 51 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 2: actually potentially stop us from about having any cattle impacted 52 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 2: by lumpy skin, and that means our producers get more, 53 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory gets more. So this has been devised 54 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 2: by producers about how we could be more proactive and 55 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: for two million dollars, it's potentially say billions of dollars. 56 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 1: Is it something that you've met with the Cattleman's Association 57 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: about what have they see? What's their feedback being. 58 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 2: Well, they've been very much at the four of this 59 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 2: because they see it as the biggest threat to them. 60 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 2: So what we want to do is make sure that 61 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 2: we're giving the tools that we need. 62 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: And we're also. 63 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 2: Announced today I've just announced it before for you as well, 64 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 2: is that we're going to look at overall sustainable biosecurity funding. 65 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 2: So what in twenty seventeen that we as a review 66 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 2: and said it should be at those funding levels indexed 67 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 2: every year. So that stage is about seven hundred million. 68 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 2: In today's stage, it should be about nine hundred billion dollars. Unfortunately, 69 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 2: this government spending about a hundred billion. So all we 70 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 2: want to do is say, let's legislate sustainable funding for 71 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 2: biosecurity for these sort of programs at those levels to 72 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:09,639 Speaker 2: make sure that we know we've got the money there 73 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 2: and it doesn't matter what government's in. Governments can't run 74 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 2: away from it. We're protecting our borders. So we're going 75 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: to legislate that. We'd hope the government back it. And 76 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 2: that's why we can spend this two million dollars, which 77 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,679 Speaker 2: is a small investment to probably say billions. 78 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 1: Well, and I mean the fact is if we end 79 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 1: up with some of these diseases in the Northern Territory, 80 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: it can decimate the cattle industry and it's a huge 81 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: exporter for us, you know, a huge industry for us 82 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 1: in the Northern Territory. You can't afford to have those issues. 83 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 2: Now, and unfortunately you are at the front line of it. 84 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 2: And because of our proximity to Indonesia who has lumpy 85 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 2: skin disease, and when we're in government, we send vaccines 86 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 2: over there, but it's very difficult. So and when it 87 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 2: can blow in, there is no way of stopping it 88 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 2: effectively getting in if the winds go the wrong way 89 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 2: and the winds are pointing to your direction. So that's 90 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 2: why we think the Northern Territory, if we don't protect 91 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 2: the beef industry here, it won't be just the producers 92 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 2: that hurt. It's the community. Darwen ll hurt. You've got 93 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 2: an export for sure that would lose millions, hundreds of 94 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 2: millions of dollars. So we need to make sure we 95 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 2: protect the jobs in Darwin as well as the jobs 96 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 2: across the North. 97 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: When you look at this technology, is it something that 98 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: is being used elsewhere in the country. No, it's not. 99 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 2: So this is something that in terms of working through 100 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 2: the scientific data, is how do we actually be more 101 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 2: proactive rather than just waiting for it to happen. Is 102 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 2: that if we can identify that and if we know that, 103 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 2: if we can catch these insects. So it's literally just 104 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 2: about putting traps out of course, and then you go 105 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 2: and test the test the insects we've caught and if 106 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 2: they've got LSD in them, then we know that we've 107 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 2: got it blown in and that's when you can take 108 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 2: those preemptive measures to move the stock away, eradicate and 109 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 2: then do more testing before you let caliback in so 110 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 2: that we don't actually get it now. 111 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: I know as part of the discussions that you've been 112 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: having in the announcement that you've been doing today in 113 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory, you're also looking at a review of 114 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: Operation Luna, which targets illegal fishing off the Northern Territory. 115 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: What changes are you wanting to see in this space. 116 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, and there were some extra resources put into this 117 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 2: because we're seeing literally the number of boats just exponentially 118 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,359 Speaker 2: increase from illegal fishing from Indonesia. But it's not just 119 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 2: about trying to stop the illegal fishing. What those boats 120 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 2: bring as they've been bisecurity risks. So with Border Force 121 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 2: and Department of Agriculture, we're saying let's review this, and 122 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 2: in fact not just review it, but put more money 123 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 2: into more resources to make sure that we can intercept 124 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 2: these boats. And there's more work done by quarantine officials 125 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:39,919 Speaker 2: in understanding the threats that are on those. 126 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 1: Boats, So what kind of resources are we talking like 127 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: additional indigenous ranges and things like that. 128 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 2: And it's people in boats intercepting them as they're in 129 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 2: the illegal fishing grounds and making sure that we're collecting 130 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 2: the data of what's on those boats, understanding the biosecurity 131 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 2: threats that they pose if those threats came to Australia. 132 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: So it's about making sure we're working with Border Force 133 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 2: in a coordinated approach, not just stopping them, but when 134 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 2: they're here, understanding the threats they've got and potentially what 135 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:09,919 Speaker 2: could be brought to Australia. When we've seen some of 136 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 2: these boats wash up on the shore of Australia. That 137 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 2: opens up a bi security risks as well as well 138 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 2: as a people risk. 139 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: One of the other things that the Coalition is planning 140 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 1: to scrap is Labour's fresh food tax. You're looking at 141 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,559 Speaker 1: replacing it with an import container Levy. Can you break 142 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 1: this down for us? I mean, how it's going to 143 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 1: work first off, but then I guess how it's going 144 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: to well, who it's going to benefit, and I guess 145 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: for me. I think one of the big things that 146 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:40,920 Speaker 1: we hear about as we lead into the federal election 147 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,720 Speaker 1: is the cost of living is enormous, so is something 148 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 1: like this actually going to help in that space? 149 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 2: You're going to someone has to pay to process these 150 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 2: containers through a port to make sure there's no pest 151 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 2: or diseases on them. What was previously happening is that 152 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 2: the government is saying here they're going to charge farmers 153 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 2: one hundred and fifty million dollars to process their competitors' 154 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 2: products through our ports to compete with them on the 155 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 2: shells of Australian supermarkets. What we're saying is that cost 156 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 2: should be on the burden of the importer because they're 157 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 2: the ones that pose the risk of bringing in their 158 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: commodities and bringing in pest and disease, so they should 159 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 2: pay because when we export our goods, we get charged 160 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 2: it when we put it through a port in China 161 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 2: or the United States or anywhere else. So what we're 162 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 2: saying is we're recovering the cost that the Australian taxpayer 163 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 2: has to pay to make sure there's no baddies on 164 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 2: those containers, and we're asking the importer to pay that 165 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 2: at what the government was trying to do, Anthony Albernezi 166 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 2: was saying, let's charge the Australian farmer. Now, in what 167 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 2: parallel universe would a government charge their own farmers to 168 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 2: help their foreign competitors having a competitive advantage on the 169 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 2: shells of Australian supermarkets. You just don't do. 170 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: That, do you, reckon it might see some of those 171 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: importers not wanting to do business with Australian and so on, 172 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: intern potentially seeing the cost of things go up. 173 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 2: No, because we actually produce a bit of a ninety 174 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 2: five percent of food what we consume here. Because our 175 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 2: climate's so so diverse across this big continent, there's only 176 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 2: about four to five percent of what we import we 177 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 2: can't produce here in this country. So it effectively just 178 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 2: means that they're going to have to pay to make 179 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 2: sure that their containers are clean. We're not having to 180 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 2: spend more resources on cleaning them once. 181 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: They get here. 182 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 2: So it's what happens to us when we export. And 183 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 2: we're just saying this is a protection of our environment. 184 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: The consumers already paying for it anyway, We're just saying 185 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 2: that should come on the importer, not on the Australian farmer. 186 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: If you have just joined us. David Littlproud, the leader 187 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 1: of the Nationals, joining us in the studio David this morning. 188 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: The big news is, of course, the eighteen billion dollar PBS, 189 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 1: the Prime Minister saying it is not for sale. Anthony 190 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: Albanezi declaring the nation's eighteen billion dollar pharmaceutical scheme is 191 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 1: not for sale amid concerns that American pharmaceutical companies pressuring 192 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: US President Donald Trump into imposing will tariffs on Australia. 193 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: It'd have a big impact, wouldn't it. It would. 194 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 2: I mean tariffs are at tax on consumers. Someone has 195 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 2: to pay for it, and that's why a rules based 196 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 2: trading order has served Australia well, it served the world, well, 197 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 2: it's served actually the United States. Well, so it's a 198 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 2: tax on consumers and so we don't want to see 199 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 2: retaliatory measures because that just escalates. And when the United 200 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 2: States actually has a trading surplus with Australia, I think 201 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 2: we have a compelling case for carve out not just 202 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 2: on what potentially a beef what could come as well, 203 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 2: but also for steel and aluminium that's been put on 204 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 2: it because about two months ago we handed over a 205 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,719 Speaker 2: check for eight hundred million dollars for our first installment 206 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 2: on Virginia Class submarines when we got a carve out. 207 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 2: When we were in government, we didn't have that. We've 208 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,719 Speaker 2: got even more compelling case for President Trump to look 209 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 2: at Australia differently. But we have This is a principle 210 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 2: of our Australian people being kept safe and healthy, and 211 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 2: the PBS is something we'll protect just as much as 212 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 2: the Labor Party. It has bipartisan support, and we want 213 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 2: to make or that we're able to have those conversations 214 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 2: with President Trump. But at the moment, President Trump won't 215 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 2: even pick up the phone. 216 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: Well, so how would a coalition government do things differently 217 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 1: with Donald Trump? Because I think it's a really different 218 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 1: ballgame and like a really different world that we're living 219 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:16,199 Speaker 1: in right now. Well it is. 220 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 2: We've proven we've got that compelling case where we're actually 221 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 2: partnering with the United States in defense with orcast that's 222 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 2: a huge investment that we're making. So we have a 223 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 2: compelling case to actually get President Trump to pick up 224 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 2: the phone. He won't. He won't even let Anthony Albanezi 225 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 2: in the front door of the White House while Australia's 226 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 2: going out the back door. Literally and so what you 227 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 2: need to be able to do, and we had a 228 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 2: very close relationship with not just the Obama administration, but 229 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 2: the Trump administration and the start of the Biden administration. 230 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 2: We're in government and you've got to be able to 231 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 2: leverage those relationships. But when you look at you've got 232 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,719 Speaker 2: a prime minister and you've got an ambassador who have 233 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 2: made personal disparaging remarks against President Trump, you have to 234 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 2: question why President Trump won't pick up the phone. I 235 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:02,680 Speaker 2: suspect that he's aware of that, and he's not overly happy. 236 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:04,479 Speaker 2: You need to be able to reset that relationship. 237 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: We've got to have difficult conversations no matter what, and 238 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: we're prepared to have that. 239 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 2: I mean, we've disagree with President Trump on a number 240 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:14,679 Speaker 2: of things, but he respects strength, not weakness. And I 241 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 2: can tell you whatever you think about Peter Dutton, he's 242 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 2: a strong character and he has strong relationships in the 243 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,079 Speaker 2: United States. PA's first trip overseas we'll be to the 244 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,840 Speaker 2: United States. It'll be to eyeball President Trump and to 245 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:28,479 Speaker 2: make sure he can articulate not just the generational relationship 246 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 2: we've had, but the financial relationship we've got and how 247 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 2: pivotal that is in terms of a geopolitical situation that 248 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 2: the investment of the Australian government and the Australian people 249 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 2: are making and defending the United States and defending Australia 250 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 2: is real and tangible in dollars. 251 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: So David Little Proud you reckon, Donald Trump will open 252 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: the door for you. 253 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 2: And Peter Dutton, well, I think we've got more chance. 254 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 2: We've got those strong relationships and Peter Dutton is a 255 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 2: strong leader and what President Trump respects is strength and 256 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:58,680 Speaker 2: strength in leadership. He can smell weakness and Peter. 257 00:11:58,520 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: Do you reckon? He thinks elbows. 258 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 2: Well, I think what you can say is that Peter 259 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 2: Dutton's had a record of dealing with administrations of all 260 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 2: persuasions in the United States as is Vibe when I 261 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 2: was Agriculture Minister. And the respect is there if you 262 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 2: are able to be able to force your way in. 263 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:17,319 Speaker 2: And when you've got a prime minister that where a 264 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 2: president can't even pick up a phone and he's made 265 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 2: disparaging remarks about the president, it's time for reset. And 266 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 2: this is a changing environment and you need strong leadership 267 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 2: that will say it as it is, but be able 268 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 2: to cut a deal because we have that compelling case 269 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 2: and we can grow on the relationship we've got, on 270 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 2: the resources we've got here, and what's needed in the 271 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,959 Speaker 2: United States to prosper together. Well. 272 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 1: Leader of the Nationals, David Little Proud, really appreciate you 273 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: joining us in the studio this morning. Thanks so much 274 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 1: for your time. 275 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. 276 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 1: Thank you.