Interview with Sarah Abo, Today Show

Transcript, E&OE 11 June 2026 Sarah Abo, Host: Good to see you this morning, Foreign Minister. So, you're in London right now for those defence talks. It seems your hosts perhaps aren't quite the Rolls-Royce they claim to be when it comes to submarines?

Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Look in terms of the UK submarine fleet, Secretary Healey, the Defence Secretary, responded to that today. The point I would make is why we need to prioritise AUKUS and what it means for Australia. This submarine capability is central to assuring Australian sovereignty in a much more contested world.

It is a capability we need in a world that is more contested. There is no doubt that this project has its challenges. There is no doubt it is ambitious.

But there is also no doubt that we do need this capability to assure our interests. And we are very focused on delivering it. And we spent a lot of time today talking about the projects, how they were progressing and what more we need to do.

But Senator, everything you've just said highlights exactly why it's such a concern that we are relying on the UK and the US when they can't even necessarily commit to being able to deliver for us. I mean, if all five of Britain's submarines are unable to actually operate at the moment, they're in port, they're the ones who are providing us with the nuclear reactor that we need.

How is this project actually going to get off the ground? Foreign Minister: Well, I think work is already being done on the reactors. But look, I'd make this point.

We have a capability gap that this government - that is, you know, the one submarine capability ending before another one is developed. Which is why we have had to work with two other nations in order to ensure we fill the capability gap and that we get a better capability, because a nuclear-powered submarine is a better capability. So, I know there's a lot of people out there who want to talk about "What about here's this alternative, here's this alternative".

We did that for many years under Mr. Morrison and Mr. Turnbull.

We had three different plans and what we ended up with was a gap in capability. We are absolutely focused on making sure this is delivered because the country does need it. The gap still exists.

I suppose it's about whether we are actually filling it on time. But I wanted to ask you as well, Senator, just while you're in the UK, how is it? Foreign Minister : That's not quite right, actually, Sarah.

Sorry, not quite right. I mean, the whole point of the AUKUS proposition is that we have an interim capability until the AUKUS submarines are developed. So, we have a very clear plan.

But happy to answer your question about the UK. Well just on the government there, because it's obviously been under siege for some time, some are claiming it's a bit of a basket case as the rise of the right continues to play out politically, it's kind of like what we're seeing here in Australia, isn't it? Foreign Minister: Well, I'm going to leave the UK to deal with their domestic politics and we will obviously deal with Australian politics.

And look, there's no doubt that we see a lot of people wanting to see change, which is why the government is so determined to deliver real change, change that has a meaningful effect on people's lives. The budget we've handed down is a controversial one, but it is a budget that delivers real change. And that is, I think, very much in our interest as a country to ensure that we don't just sit by when we see a problem, but we try and do something about it.

I guess, Senator, it's about whether that aim of yours is something the government, sorry, the public is actually interested in. I mean, your advertising war against One Nation has spectacularly backfired. Pauline Hanson has reportedly raised a million dollars in a day off the back of the party's Fire the Liar campaign.

How much have you raised? Foreign Minister: Well, I'm not actually interested in how much Ms. Hanson has raised or not raised.

But this is the campaign that you started. You're asking the public for $27. Foreign Minister: Hang on, hang on.

And she asked for $29. These are public donations. It says everything you need to know.

Foreign Minister: I'm not in charge of fundraising. Well, I would say this. I'm not worried about her fundraising, I'm worried about her policies and I'm worried about the fact that, you know, she proposes no solutions.

But what she does engender, what she does try and stoke, is anger, and I don't think that's right for the country. It seems to be working, though. These are public donations.

Foreign Minister: Well, Sarah, all I can say to you is why we do what we do is because we try to deliver the change that we think is needed to make our country a better place. That's why we put in, you know, that's why we've invested in Medicare, that's why we've invested in health. That's why we have done what we have done across so many policy areas.

It's why I'm here, working harder than we ever have to secure our relationships with other countries because we know the world is much more contested and we need to work with others in strong relationships to protect Australia's interests. That's what I'm focused on. Alright, Senator, always good to chat.

Thanks for joining us this morning.