Today Show

E&OE TRANSCRIPT Interview – Today Show with Ben Fordham and Anthony Albanese Friday 29 August 2014 SUBJECTS: Middle East politics; QANTAS BEN FORDHAM: For more we are joined by Christopher Pyne from the Liberal Party and from Labor Anthony Albanese. Good morning to you gentleman. CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Good morning. ANTHONY ALBANESE: Good morning. BEN FORDHAM: As we go to air this morning US President Barack Obama is addressing the US media in Washington and he is also talking about the Islamic state and the work that is being done on the Islamic State. He claims at the moment that some of the impacts, some of the airstrikes, the strategic airstrikes that the United States have conducted is reducing the power of ISIL and ISIS but it will be a long road. Christopher? CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Yes, it is and I am sure that ISIS has been checked in northern Iraq, they haven't been defeated. Our military experts this week said that they would have to be defeated militarily and Australia will respond to requests from the US and our other allies in handling the ISIS problem. Labor I must say have been very good over the last couple of weeks in adopting a bipartisan approach to the protection of Australian citizens here, and our activities overseas. I think that there will be more to be said about this in the coming days and weeks and obviously if the US makes requests to us we will respond. BEN FORDHAM: The other story that is breaking this morning as we go to air involves some footage we just saw before and that Ukraine's President has revealed this morning that Russia is undertaking a direct invasion after troops were seen crossing the border. It seems, Anthony that they don't really give a stuff about what the world is saying or thinking? ANTHONY ALBANESE: Well we would certainly be concerned about any breach of a sovereign nation's borders and the Ukraine, of course, has already going through difficulties because of the internal pro-Russian activity and of course we here in Australia were impacted directly with the attack on the Malaysian airline that resulted in such tragic loss for our country, as well as the world. BEN FORDHAM: I know I am switching around a little bit but you just mentioned at the end of your last answer if and when the US President asks us to increase our involvement in either Syria or Iraq it would be very unlikely that Tony Abbott would be saying no to that? CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Well we have the military capability to help in northern Iraq. We have Hornet jets that are able to be deployed against ISIS. We have obviously already been involved in humanitarian drops to the Yazidis people who are hiding on Mt Sinjar from ISIS. This is the most vicious and most foul terrorist group we have ever seen in the world's history. We in the West can't allow it to slaughter innocent people. The Prime Minister has already been very responsive to our other allies’ requests for support. We have the capability to act, and given we have that capability it would be wrong of us not to be involved. BEN FORDHAM: Anthony, some Labor MPs made the claim yesterday that Tony Abbott is focusing on national security and terrorism to take the focus off his budget issues, getting the budget through the Senate. Do you agree with that in any way? ANTHONY ALBANESE: Look, I have a view that they are two very separate issues. That the budget should be dealt with on its merits and I think it is a shocker and we need to have that debate. At the same time it is important that the first responsibility of my government is national security and it is a responsibility of everyone in the Parliament, of the Opposition to be constructive. All Australians having a look at what is going on in Iraq and Syria will be horrified by the actions of these fundamentalists. These are people who primarily, importantly are killing other Muslims and are killing people for just who they are. The hate that is there, it is quite despicable and I think all Australians are united in that and we should view national security on its merits, it should be above politics and certainly that is the approach that I take. CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Well Anthony has responded in a very statesman like way but the first cracks started to appear in the Labor Party's facade yesterday because Kim Carr and Senator Sue Lines and Melissa Parke were saying that they didn't share the Prime Minister's views about some of these issues in the Middle East. Bill Shorten is trying to shut them down. Anthony is trying to shut them down this morning. I think most people in the Labor caucus support the government's actions. Obviously Anthony does and Bill Shorten does but clearly there are clearly people in caucus who don't share that view. ANTHONY ALBANESE: That is not right, what we are fighting for is democracy and when we do that people are entitled to have a debate and Australians will have a debate. I have a very strong view about fundamentalism and the threat that it represents, including people from Australia going to fight. CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Any kind of fundamentalism. BEN FORDHAM: I have to get a comment from each of you about Qantas, a $2.8 million loss, some are saying that Alan Joyce should go, do you agree? CHRISTOPHER PYNE: No, I don't think that Alan Joyce should go. Obviously we are glad that Qantas is trying to recalibrate itself over the next year or two. They have already said that abolishing the carbon tax, which Labor wants to keep, will help them over the next year or so. That is good and I think that there are plans for them to recalibrate their arrangements. ANTHONY ALBANESE: Look, in terms of the result the truth is that it was under $650 million loss, that was below market expectations. It is important for Australia's national interest that we have a strong Qantas. BEN FORDHAM: Good to talk to you. Anthony Albanese and Christopher Pyne. Have a happy Friday. [ends]