Scott Morrison in France

SUBJECTS: G7 agenda; Tariffs and China-US trade; Meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson; Hong Kong; Iran’s Foreign Minister; Tackling online terror and hate; Amazon fires; Free trade deals

 

PRIME MINISTER: The reason we came here was because one in five Australian jobs depend on trade. Because millions of Australians each day use the Internet, they use social media platforms, they use digital platforms, and I want them to be safe. I know for many that it might seem that when these summits are held, people wonder why people come from so far and they gather together to talk about these issues but I can tell you that when one in five of your jobs are dependent on trade when there are complex issues that are going on with our global economy, whether there are the threats that can reach out and touch the lives of Australians through digital platforms, well, you've got to be. And I appreciate the invitation from President Macron to be here, to be able to participate and put Australia's perspective and contribution on these issues. And we have been making a contribution. I've just come from the session that was dealing with the digital technology issues and I was so encouraged by the tremendous support that we've had, not just for when we went to Osaka with the G20 declaration, but now following that up here and also following it up with the OECD so we are actually putting some tools in place which can assist all countries and we are taking the measures, as Australian journalists will know that we're taking home, to deal with these issues.

 

So it has been a good opportunity over the last two days to focus on Australia's national interest and how that fits in with what is happening elsewhere in the world. These are quite unique opportunities. As an Australian Prime Minister, I always prefer to be in Australia dealing with issues on the ground domestically. But these events are necessary and have provided Australia, I think, a good opportunity. Whether it's my first formal meeting with Boris Johnson today, which was both an enjoyable and very lively affair and very useful too. Including also meeting with Prime Minister Modi on the margins of the discussions, as well as Prime Minister Trudeau where we particularly discussed the issues around both of our interests in Hong Kong. And the Prime Minister of Italy, they're going through many changes there. But there was a continuity in the relationships between our economies. I was particularly pleased with Australia's actions on establishing the National Space Agency. The Australian Space Agency in Adelaide has actually been noticed and I'm thrilled about that. And there was a keenness, both in the United Kingdom and from Italy, to engage with us so I have no doubt Premier Marshall, pardon the pun, will be over the moon when it comes to the Space Agency initiatives. And so there has been a lot of opportunity to push some business forward here for Australia and so I'm very appreciative of the opportunity we've had and happy to take any questions.

 

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, are you encouraged by the apparent detente between the U.S. and China over trade?

 

PRIME MINISTER: Well I am. I am encouraged. I am pleased. But I am also mindful that we've been here before. But I'd much rather be in this situation and I'm pleased that China has responded and it's coming back and will then work with the United States. As I said yesterday, the issue is having an obvious impact on the global economy and I'm pleased to see that they're going to try and move things forward. Yesterday we saw Japan and the United States come to an agreement. I'm pleased, having spoken to Prime Minister Abe today, that that arrangement also protects Australia's interests and the arrangements we have with Japan and that's welcome news. We've been having a tremendous relationship with Japan and so I appreciate the fact that as a result of that relationship that we ensure both of their undertakings to Australia can be met at the same time, we have been able the make the undertaking to the United States.

 

JOURNALIST: As you say, we've been in this place before. We were in this place just 8 weeks ago. Do you think there is going to be any genuine progress this time?

 

PRIME MINISTER: Well, you can only hope so. But as President Trump often says, let's just see what happens. And I think that's the situation we are in. But I'm always hopeful that they can come to an [inaudible]. And as I said yesterday, it's the product of our economy going into a new phase globally. China has grown, and that means that the arrangements that we have in trade or whether it's emissions reduction or the global responsibility and the relationships people have, this all changes too. So this is a moment for that to re-gear and let's hope that something can be concluded in the bilateral trading relationship between the US and China.

 

JOURNALIST: Next year’s the Summit is set to be hosted by the United States, potentially even at Donald Trump's own property. Would you be hoping to score an invite along to the G7 in 2020?

 

PRIME MINISTER: Well look, I'm not one who rushes for the plane to attend summits. That's not my style. I'd much prefer to be back working on issues domestically because we've got a lot of issues we've got to focus on domestically. While these events are necessary, my focus is always on Australia's national interest at home. We'll be in Washington next month and this has been another opportunity, I think, to reinforce the wonderful relationship we have with the United States. We have a common view on so many issues and that's because our interests are just so aligned. We are for a free world where people could get on about their lives and America have always championed that and that's why we have such a strong values connection.

 

JOURNALIST: From the digital transformation stuff today and encouraging tech companies to voluntarily report extremist content being taken down. Are you happy with the support you're receiving from the United States? Because it looked on post-feed like Donald Trump didn't even turn up to that session?

 

PRIME MINISTER: No he was… I just came from that session, he was very supportive. And I appreciate all of the country's support here at the G7 for that initiative. Both Prime Minister Modi and I spoke to that matter, it's one of the reasons we were both here. And there is very strong support because look, it's a simple proposition. It actually is really simple. The rules in the digital world have to be the same as the rules in the physical world. What we expect of companies in the physical world you should expect from companies in the digital world. I mean, you don’t go and let a company put a dodgy product, a kid's toy, on a shelf and let them buy it and then swallow it and choke to death do you? You don't. You have proper laws that protect people from those sorts of things. Digital companies are no different. They have to take responsibility for what they produce and the services they provide and making sure they don't harm people. And this is just a simple process of ensuring that the digital world's rules reflect the physical world's rules. Not more, not less, just the same. And it's just a product of the world responding to this changing and amazing technology. We also recognize that this technology… take in Australia's case, is enabling us to provide remote health services to some of the most disadvantaged Australians in our country. I mean, that is amazing. It's tremendous. We want all that, but at the same time companies have a responsibility, like any company does, whether you're online or you're on the high street.

 

JOURNALIST: Were you expecting that the US President would also be involved in this?

 

PRIME MINISTER: I don't manage his diary.

 

JOURNALIST: It was on, on his diary…

 

PRIME MINISTER: Which sessions he's able to attend and he attends, I don't provide a running commentary.

 

JOURNALIST: On the bilat with Boris Johnson, and Hong Kong specifically, what did you discuss? What can the world be doing? What needs to be done before this escalates further?

 

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think the key is all of us working together to seek to de-escalate the situation and where we have opportunities just to do that we will take those opportunities. We urge protestors to be conducting themselves in a peaceful way. And we encourage those who are raising issues to be able to be heard by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong to seek to resolve those issues internally. These are internal matters and we would hope that they would be resolved that way. And so many of us who sit around the table were just sitting around have citizens, often dual citizens. That are residents in Hong Kong, I met with Prime Minister Trudeau today and we had a very good discussion. Canada has some 300,000 or thereabouts, of people who hold passports with Canada, we have around 100,000 so we have a shared interest in this, as does the United Kingdom and we have a similar number, with, even more so in Australia. So we're watching this very closely and we're swapping notes. We would like to see this issue de-escalate. But ultimately that's in the hands of those who are coordinating the protests and those who are responding.

 

JOURNALIST: You're never going to have 100 per cent of protesters perfectly behave obviously, would you say overall their actions have been fair enough and valid?

 

PRIME MINISTER: I would just continue to encourage them to express their views peacefully. I would encourage those responsible at a domestic level to be responding to those in an appropriate way.

 

JOURNALIST: Just further on the talks with Boris Johnson on trade. Is there a recognition there's maybe some sensitivity now that the US is also saying they want to do a trade deal as soon as possible, they've got a [inaudible] first likes to be the winner, are we worried about upsetting our other most important relationship?

 

PRIME MINISTER: I don't think these issues cross over. There's a lot to go around, and Australia I think for one will be pretty [inaudible]. What Prime Minister Johnson and I discussed today is there's the 80-20 rule pretty much applies to this. The first 80 per cent of what we'd seek to do is pretty straightforward and I think we can move forward rapidly, I mean we've been setting our own records in being able to strike agreements around the world and so we're pretty match-fit when it comes to these issues. We've been striking a lot of agreements and they're great agreements, some of the best agreements we've seen anywhere in the world. We're very pleased with them. And so we encourage them to do a deal with the United States we encourage them to do a deal with many others. Today and over the course of the last two days. I've continued to prosecute our case for the EU free trade agreement. There are some difficult issues there, the geographic indicators issue is a tough one. But we'll work through that patiently. The EU and the UK are the next two very big agreements that are there on a bilateral basis. But we've also been talking a lot about the RCEP agreement here. This is the agreement that is bringing together a lot of the Indo-Pacific nations. And which brings in some of the big economies of the region. So we think that's exciting. But if anyone is in a room talking about a better trade and freer trade. You'll find Australia in that room. And we're good at that.

 

JOURNALIST: On the election campaign you spoke about how well Jenny Morrison was received. How did she enjoy yesterday and how has she found this G7 experience?

 

PRIME MINISTER: Well look, it's quite a difference for us. I mean. I come from the suburbs in Sydney. And this is a long way from the Shire and, but, you know the reason why people I think respond so well to Jen, and I am you know, ridiculously and passionately biased on this topic. Is she's just a natural wonderful and friendly person and she doesn't care whether you're the first lady of the United States or you know, the lady she'd meet in the street like she did actually on election night when she went up to a lady who was sleeping rough on the streets that night on her way home. That's Jen she's amazing.

 

JOURNALIST: On the FTA with Britain. How quickly after Brexit do you hope to have that done? Boris Johnson said it's impossible to do it any sooner than a year with the US what's the timeframe for you for successfully-

 

PRIME MINISTER: Well I'd like to think we could move quicker than that. But look you just got to get around the table and work it through. So I'm not going to create any arbitrary deadlines on this. I mean I would hope that we could include as I say the 80-20 rule could apply. Let's lock in what we can lock in and get that moving and I think that creates momentum for the UK now for arrangements with Australia and others to be concluded quickly. But you know at the end of the day it's going to be in our interests. We're going to sign up to something that we don't think helps us. And neither will they and that's how this should work. I mean countries come together. Whether it's at a forum like this or to sit around the trade table because they're pursuing their national interests. That's why we're here. There should be no surprise about that. And sometimes those interests don't align.

 

JOURNALIST: But in less than a year you're saying?

 

PRIME MINISTER: Oh I hope so.

 

JOURNALIST: Just quickly, on the online extremism, the plan being discussed talks about big tech companies voluntarily reporting information, did Donald Trump give you any indication that he would urge American big tech companies to take part in this scheme?

 

PRIME MINISTER: The President did a lot of listening today. And the work we have to do is build that system. And that's what we're doing with the OECD. So you know we're not getting ahead of ourselves here. I mean Australia will take its own decisions about this. And where we want to mandate these things. We will. But these rules work best when you can try and engage as many countries as you can. I mean take what we've been able to achieve on multi-national tax avoidance. I mean we've raised billions and billions and billions of dollars. Through a process that began at the G20, worked with the OECD, countries are now sharing information on where these companies pay tax. Which means there's more tax revenue coming into Australia's coffers from big multinationals who frankly should pay their fair share of tax. And we've been able to work with the international system to get a really good result for Australia so that's why I'm optimistic about that. I've seen it work before. But what you do is you're patient about it, you work with people you get the rules right, build the relationships. But I can tell you sitting around that table, we all understand that digital platforms are amazing, but we all understand whether it's your child who gets bullied online or whether it's the most extreme and violent content. These are dangerous things that can happen in that space. And there needs to be better control and more responsibility taken. But my preference is they just do it. That actually take the initiative themselves. Should it really be necessary for the world's biggest economies to come together and actually talk about regulation... wouldn't they want their platforms and their systems to be safe? You know you talk to small business people and they make their products they're very proud of them. They put them on the shelves, they want them to improve people's lives. Now. That's what I want from the digital platforms. I want them to have that attitude and if that means they're going to spend a bit more money to make their product safe well spend it. You can spend enough money making sure that the second you look up a book on the internet and they send you an ad for about seven more. They can crack that technology really fast, so if they can crack that, I'm sure they can work this stuff out too.

 

JOURNALIST: One of President Macron's focuses here has been those fires in the Amazon, has Australia been asked to contribute any money and if not, are you making contingent [inaudible] in case we are?

 

PRIME MINISTER: It's very early days on this. There are two calls totalling around 50 million globally to address that and that should be well within the means of those countries for which is their- this is their primary sphere. I mean Australia has always responded first to issues that have happened specifically in our region. Of course the Boxing Day tsunami. Things like this Australia has been quick out of the blocks. And when we're seeing these issues happening in Indonesia or elsewhere in the Pacific, we are the first responders and Australia takes our responsibility in our sphere very seriously. This is not directly in our sphere but it is the lungs of the world and we understand it's important. So we'll be looking to see as those arrangements come together and the commitments that are made, the UK have already committed $10 million to this process. And I have no doubt that once that call is worked through the G7 sitting around the table here and those who are closer to that scene. Then they will be able to more than accomplish that. In terms of the resource expertise, Australia is a very well positioned to advise on those things but our assets we will obviously need in Australia. We will be coming into an Australian summer. And our assets will need to be here domestically to deal with that. So if it's a question of resources and funds then I have no doubt that they'll, through the cooperation of international partners they'll be able to meet that.

 

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister just call on Iran. Are you aware of any fallout following the visit by the Foreign Minister yesterday?

 

PRIME MINISTER: I'm not, I think people are a bit over-excited on that.

 

JOURNALIST: What's your prediction on Brexit. Do you think Boris Johnson can actually deliver Brexit when he says he's going to go?

 

PRIME MINISTER: Well I tell you, if you sat in that room with him this morning you'd be absolutely convinced of it. You'd be pretty certain of it. I mean. I very much enjoyed our meeting let me just say that. We are going to have a great relationship. Despite his cricket sledging! Which was very modest I should say, it was modest sledging.

 

JOURNALIST: How far away are we from the EU FTA? Is that one a little bit further down the track?

 

PRIME MINISTER: That one's more complex. I think but the process is started and we'll just keep [inaudible] this is how you get these things done. And it just it's a step by step by step by step. But, I detected, well not just detected, because they stated to me quite plainly, whether it was my meeting with Chancellor Merkel or the Prime Minister of Italy today. I know he's acting Prime Minister at the moment, but there is a real keenness to engage with Australia. See Australia's economy is well respected around the world our expertise is well respected. It’s why we were so excited to hear that our actions on the space agency have been picked up and there was a keenness to engage. They also know about the significant procurements we're doing in defence industry and technology. They are very well aware of our expertise in cyber. And it was a good opportunity today to talk about what was happening down in South Australia as part of that centre of excellence of technology hub that they're creating down there. So I'm looking forward to getting on the phone to Steve Marshall. And I've got a few leads for him.

 

JOURNALIST: Have you had fun Prime Minister? I mean, you were invited here as an observer and you've really been very involved actually?

 

PRIME MINISTER: Well these are good opportunities for Australia, it is the first time Australia has been invited to come and participate in the G7. That's a reflection positively on Australians. And so as a result, of course, I'm going to come. It would be I think disrespectful to our, perhaps our hosts. But also Australians who I think through their own efforts have been able to put Australia's head up. And people are noticing what Australia is doing and they want us to be part of what's happening at this level. It’s been a busy few days particularly after a very busy time we had in Vietnam, so I am looking forward to getting home and focussing on issues there. Josh has given a great speech earlier today our time and he has really set out some of the big productivity challenges that are there which reflect what I set out in Perth a few weeks back. Not long after the election. Productivity I know scares a lot [inaudible] but it's just simply this. It's our plan to ensure that you earn more from what you do. That's what it's about. I think sometimes when people talk about these issues, Australians get a bit worried from past experience. That just means they want to pay me less for what I do, nope it's actually the absolute opposite. When we are addressing Australia's economic challenges it's about meaning that you can earn more from what you do, it has greater value it's able to contribute more. And you know, that is that's going to make our economy even stronger. And it means that Australia, 28 years of consecutive economic growth will continue to be a key interest for those all around the world.

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