Topics: Gaza peace plan, Coalition policy meeting, net zero

E&OE.......................

CHRIS KENNY: All right, let's get some immediate opposition reaction to this breaking news about Australia's commitment to a peace plan in the Middle East. Joining me now from Sydney is Dave Sharma. He's the Shadow Assistant Minister for Treasury. He's also, as you know, a former Australian Ambassador to Israel. Thanks for joining us, Dave. You might not have caught up on this news. It's only just been announced, but the ADF say they were asked by the US Central Command to support the Civil-Military Coordination Centre that's going to be set up in Israel to support stabilization efforts in Gaza. And Australia has responded that the Defence Forces will send one liaison officer. Tell me about your response to that announcement and whether the opposition would support it.

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DAVE SHARMA: Well, I'd say, I think it's important that Australia plays a role in the stabilization of that part of the world. And historically, we have done so, whether it's troops in the Sinai, people in Lebanon, people on the Golan Heights, the ADF has played a role there, nevermind the fight against ISIS, about a decade ago. I would say a contribution of one person, though, strikes me as quite small and quite insignificant. I don't know what the US request was, but to me, in the terms I understand it, I think I would be, in principle, supportive. But I would think that Australia could play a more meaningful contribution towards, an international effort to stabilize and help Gaza recover.

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CHRIS KENNY: Yeah, I think that's the question, but I, I'd agree with you. If something's going to happen, Australia's got to be involved in some way. It's the minimal possible contribution. But the other aspect of this is why the government wouldn't announce it, why we wouldn't hear from the defence minister or the prime minister, given he was discussing these very issues in Washington in the past 48 hours.

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DAVE SHARMA: Well, yes, I am surprised because clearly this would have come up in Washington, either in the prime minister's meeting with Trump or his meeting and subsequent dinner with Marco Rubio, or I presume he met the defence secretary as well, Pete Hesgeth. So, clearly this would have been discussed, and it normally would have been part of the, would have been announced by the Prime Minister as part of the outcomes of that visit. So, it's not clear to me why it's been handled this way. It's a little irregular. It reminds me somewhat of when the Biden administration asked Australia to contribute to the anti-Houthi, anti-piracy task force in the Red Sea, the Albanese government refused. And then I think we ended up sending one or two embedded liaison officers. Again, a tokenistic contribution. So, I'd like to see the government properly explain this decision, what the role will be, what was asked of us, and what other contributions they envisage us making.

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CHRIS KENNY: Exactly. Well, one of the men who was in the room with Anthony Albanese at the White House was the Vice President, JD Vance. He's now on his way to the Middle East to try and bed down the concerns there of course about the ceasefire holding because of fire coming from both Hamas and Israeli forces against Hamas. Have a look.

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JD VANCE: Every time that there's an act of violence, there's this inclination to say, "Oh, this is the end of the ceasefire. This is the end of the peace plan." It's not the end. It is, in fact, exactly how this is going to have to happen when you have people who hate each other, who have been fighting against each other for a very long time. We are doing very well. We are in a very good place.

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CHRIS KENNY: Yeah, JD Vance in Israel already. he got there quickly. What's your latest reading, uh, on the ceasefire, Dave? It was never going to be smooth and easy, but is it holding up strongly enough or should we be worried?

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DAVE SHARMA: Look, I there's certainly no cause to be complacent, but I also don't think there's any cause for alarm. I mean, I think, the fact that the US is so heavily invested in this and, and the fact that JD Vance is going, the vice president, is a good sign of their ongoing interest in this. That's important. But also, the fact that the entirety of the Arab world, including Hamas' patrons and sponsors, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and the rest of the Arab world, plus Israel, are behind this, I think means that everyone is invested in their success. So yes, there will be frictions and breakouts and possibly other exchange of fire incidents like we've seen. But I think the kind of strategic underpinnings of this agreement remain strong.

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CHRIS KENNY: Well, back in Australia, disagreement in the coalition exists, of course, around climate and energy policy. There's going to be a big meeting, a three-hour roundtable next week. Or is it later this week? I'll have to check that with you in a moment. I want to show first up what Sussan Ley has had to say, has had to say about this. She's not going, but here's what she had to say.

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SUSSAN LEY: I'm working with, the group of dedicated colleagues. So, that's led by Dan Tehan, who is our Shadow Energy Minister, and there's at least three policy meetings coming up in the calendar, all with respect to developing an energy policy that has two fundamentals, that we deliver a stable, reliable grid to provide affordable energy for households and businesses, and that we do play our role in reducing emissions internationally.

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CHRIS KENNY: Yeah, that meeting will be in Canberra Friday week when all the MPs are back in Canberra. And Dave Sharma, lots of talking, lots of words there. Bottom line is, do you sign up to net zero or not?

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DAVE SHARMA: Well, look, I think, firstly, look, the point of the meeting is for everyone to express their view. This is how policy development works. People have views, political perspectives, policy interests and, and Dan and Sussan and the rest of the Shadow Cabinet needs to hear those and discuss those. Look, I'm not sure it's so binary as it's being portrayed though. I think I would like to see our emissions come down, but I don't want it to be at the expense of higher energy prices or uncompetitive manufacturing or if the rest of the world isn't doing their part either. And so, I think, with none of these things can it be set and forget. It was a coalition government that signed up to net zero. I accept though that the world has changed somewhat, the feasibility of that goal has changed somewhat, and it's right that we revisit it. But I don't think we should be coming out with a policy that either says we're for or against necessarily. I think we need to be coming out with a policy that will lower prices, increase the supply of gas, and lower emissions. And not one of those particular priorities should take dominance over any other.

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CHRIS KENNY: Binary is so old-fashioned these days in so many areas, but you are dead right. It's a complex area. But that target, the thing about 2050 is it can't be done anyway, so why sign up to a target that actually can't be achieved? Great to talk to you again, Dave. I appreciate it. Dave Sharma there live in Sydney.

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