Television Interview, ABC News Breakfast

SUBJECT/S: NFL in Melbourne; Fuel supply and price; Middle East Conflict; 25 anniversary of 9/11; One Nation Cartoon; Car Theft Data; Geelong vs Fremantle JAMES GLENDAY, HOST: And one of those people who's very excited about today's game is the Deputy Prime Minister and the Defence Minister, Richard Marles, who joins us here on our rooftop space. Richard, welcome.

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Great to be here. How are you feeling about the game? Are you excited?

Are you an NFL fan? Look, I wouldn't claim to be a massive NFL fan, but... look, the NFL is the biggest sporting competition in the world, and for the first time, it's going to be played at the most important sporting arena in the world. So, I think we're all pretty excited in this state to see the game here.

I'll be barracking for the 49ers. Jeff Bleich, who's a former US ambassador to Australia, a very loyal Cats fan, is also a very proud San Franciscan, who I saw last week in San Francisco. So, that's the reason – He's got me on board with the 49ers.

EMMA REBELLATO, HOST: Okay, look, one of the stories that we're following this morning is the escalating price of brent crude. How worried are you about that? It's gone up now to about $107 USD a barrel.

It just keeps going up. How concerned is the government about this and the impact on inflation? Well, obviously, we are looking at what's happening to global fuel supply chains and its impact on the global fuel price, global oil price.

So, we are very much watching that very closely. What we need to be seeing is the global fuel supply chains return to normal. And that means that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation, all of that is observed properly, both in the Strait of Hormuz in respect of Iran, but obviously in this instance, in terms of the Red Sea as well.

So, I mean, that continues to be a challenge in that part of the world, but it just highlights how important sea lines of communication are to our country. But it also highlights how important the international rules of the road are. You spoke with your US counterparts about what plans they have for ending the war last week, and we spoke to you about that.

Just back home, though, would you look at revisiting the fuel excise if this sort of drags on and if it does really stay elevated for a couple of months? Well, I think we need to take this as it goes. And I think we, you know, there's been a lot of fluctuation in the oil price and a whole lot of things can vary, but obviously what we've seen in the last couple of days is having an impact.

So, you know, that is concerning. There's no doubt about that, but I think we just need to see how this plays out. It's been quite volatile and it's not a decision that you make on the basis of a day or two.

Today is, of course, September 11 here in Australia. It's the day earlier in the United States. But this is a really significant anniversary, 25 years.

How do you reflect on the anniversary and the commemoration? It is. I mean, I think for me, I suspect the same for you.

It's the day in our lifetime which we remember most as having changed the world in which we live. I remember, on that night, watching West Wing. A number of people I've been speaking to in the last few days were doing the same thing.

And then, when it finished, it cut into this extraordinary vision of smoke coming out of the North Tower. We weren't really sure what was going on. And then, you know, astonishingly, it looked as though we were witnessing a plane fly into the South Tower.

And I think, as it unfolded over the days after that, it was the sense of normality, you know, like people were going about their day, buying a coffee in the morning, getting on a commuter aircraft, doing the sort of things that we all do all the time, like thousands of Australians do every day. No one was imagining, though, putting themselves in harm's way. And yet it was the complete unbelievable way in which this played out, the indiscriminate way in which it all played out.

And then what it heralded was obviously a huge change in terms of wars in Iran, wars in Iraq, I should say, and in Afghanistan. More than 40,000 Australians served in those over the coming years, more than 40 lost their lives. Ten Australians lost their lives on that day, on September 11.

So, we very much remember all of them. We're going to go to the US to get more on that anniversary a little later on the show. Just want to bring you back to domestic politics.

One Nation has a popular cartoon series that it uses to promote Pauline Hanson. In one of the cartoons about a month ago now, Andrew Hastie was labelled a traitor. That's got a lot of reaction.

What's your view as Defence Minister? Well, firstly, I think that's tasteless. Andrew Hastie is most definitely not a traitor.

I know Andrew well and I've said this publicly before. I very much honour the service that Andrew Hastie has given to our country, wearing our nation's uniform, and I think to use that word in respect of a veteran is extremely tasteless. Should One Nation consider taking this down, do you think?

I definitely think they should. I mean, it's obviously for One Nation to explain, but it is utterly tasteless and no one should be using that word in respect of any veteran and in respect of Andrew, who I obviously know personally, a man who has given enormous service to this country wearing our nation's uniform. And as the Defence Minister, I know what – I've not served in the way that Andrew has – but I feel an enormous sense of responsibility, but also privilege, for being able to work with those who do serve.

And I know what comes with that. And that's not a word which should be associated with people who undertake that service. So, the RSL has now weighed into this as well.

Do you think this is an insult to all veterans who have served? Do you think it's an insult to all veterans who have served? I do think it's an insult to all veterans and that's the way in which the RSL have responded.

And I can understand their response. I mean, they make the point about the significance of that word being used in respect of any veteran and how that is then taken for all veterans. And I absolutely understand the way in which they've cast it and I completely agree with it.

Before we let you go, we've been travelling around the country. We've been asking people what concerns them. One of the things that's come up a lot here in Victoria is crime.

Yesterday we had the Insurance Council of Australia on and they said that stolen cars from Melbourne are being shipped to countries like Iran for parts. Are you aware this sort of thing's happening? I mean, you've got to get out of a port and you represent a port city.

I do. I was not aware of that specifically. Look, I think Victorians are aware of this and it is something that people are certainly talking about, feeling.

Do you know why Melbourne's become the car theft capital of Australia? Well, I didn't know that and I can't answer that. But I would also point out that I think the state government is addressing this.

They have a set of policies which are looking at this. So, I mean, I think Victorians are aware of it, but the state government very much is as well. And they're seeking to address it.

Well, we can't let you go without getting a tip for tonight's game because you'll be watching the Cats up against Fremantle. Well, I mean, mine, of course, is a completely objective tip. Of course – And just to confirm, that is a Geelong tie?

It is most definitely a Geelong tie. And as long as Geelong keeps winning, I won't be taking this tie off. Look, I'm feeling hopeful.

You know, the expectations are a bit lower, I think, this year, but I think the team goes over there full of confidence. I was, you know, in contact with them during the week – You've spoken with them? Well, in contact – I thought last week was incredible and feel very proud of what they did.

So, yeah, we're pretty excited. Oh, I tell you what, if they win tonight, you wouldn't rule them out. They'd be playing in Victoria.

Richard Marles, we always appreciate your time. Thanks for joining. Thanks for having me.