Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
TRANSCRIPT
Sky News Newsday with Kieran Gilbert
TOPICS: Albanese China visit, trade, security, US alliance
17 July 2025
E&OE
Kieran Gilbert
The Prime Minister wraps up his visit to China today, and my colleague, Cameron Reddin is on the ground, in Chengdu we will be there, live there shortly. I want to bring in, though, the Shadow Foreign Minister, Michaelia Cash, who joins us live in the studio. What have you made of the trip this week by the Prime Minister? Do you see it as a success as he tries to build ties with Beijing?
Senator Cash
Well, the Prime Minister now needs to clearly explain to the Australian people the tangible economic benefits that he has received via the six day trip. And these tangible economic benefits Kieran, they need to be more substantial than a review of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. The Coalition negotiated that agreement, as you know, 10 years ago. There was an inbuilt review mechanism. They need to be more substantial than a re-announcement that mainland Australian apples will now be cleared for access into China that has already occurred. I mean, Mr. Albanese would have Australians believe that it is a triumph to be serenaded by a band playing Aussie rock songs. Again, China was our greatest trading partner. We know that. The Coalition wants to have a relationship with China. We want to enhance our trading relationship. And Mr. Albanese needs to explain to the Australian people exactly how he’s done that.
Kieran Gilbert
What about that round table with the CEOs of the mining companies.
Senator Cash
Absolutely. The Coalition wants a strong trading relationship with China.
Kieran Gilbert
Isn’t that a win in terms of, you know, getting that leadership around the table?
Senator Cash
What are the tangible economic benefits for Australia? I think what I’m concerned by, and certainly you know, reading what commentators are saying, I mean, you need to be able to sit down with the leadership in Beijing and have very frank and unambiguous conversations. Now, Mr. Albanese says he raised regional strategic concerns with Xi Jinping. Well, sadly, Mr. Albanese, the concerns you raised were largely ignored. You received no assurances in relation to those concerns. That isactually of worry to me.
Kieran Gilbert
Can we stick on the economic and then we’ll get on to the security issues? Because I think the economic one’s an important one given. Isn’t it important to ensure those diplomatic ties and even the people to people?
Senator Cash
Very much so. The economic relationship’s based on that, and as I said, the Coalition were the ones who signed the China Free Trade Agreement. We strongly believe in a good trading relationship with China. We support steps that the Australian Government takes to ensure that we gain further access into Chinese markets, in particular for our agricultural products. But re-announcing the access of mainland apples that’s already been announced. Announcing a review of CHAFTA – that was already built into the agreement that the coalition negotiated and signed in 2015.
Kieran Gilbert
The Prime Minister raised the issue of the circumnavigation and live firing. So what more can you expect him to demand from the Chinese leadership?
Senator Cash
He raised the issue. I think he should have been incredibly clear to the President that this is unacceptable behavior. I think it is very disappointing that in a respectful relationship, and that respect goes two ways, that the Prime Minister did not receive any assurances. I think what is worse, though, it appears from the reporting that those concerns were dismissed. Mr. Albanese needs to be very, very clear – the way in which the circumnavigation occurred, but also live fire exercises near Australian civilian airspace – that is completely, totally and utterly unacceptable. But he also needs to be incredibly clear in relation to the decision on the Port of Darwin. That decision Kieran has been made, the Port of Darwin, there’s no ambiguity here, is being returned to Australian control.
Kieran Gilbert
The PM did say that, though he said that.
Senator Cash
However, he is creating uncertainty Kieran, by not now being very clear about the time frame in which that is to occur. There’s been an announcement. That’s great. It was an election commitment, but Mr. Albanese is now creating uncertainty in relation to that announcement by not now clearly articulating, in particular, to the Australian people, when is this going to occur? What is the timeframe and what is the process?
Kieran Gilbert
When you have said that that live firing is unacceptable, the Deputy Prime Minister this week and the Prime Minister as well have pointed out it wasn’t in breach of international law.
Senator Cash
We said that at the time Kieran.
Kieran Gilbert
But that being said, the Prime Minister did raise concerns with the President, so he did do what you said.
Senator Cash
But isn’t it disappointing that despite all of what’s happened in the China trip, the great publicity that Mr. Albanese has received, he has not been able to get assurances from the President Xi Jinping of China in relation to these issues. It is not for Mr. Marles and Mr. Albanese to make excuses for the Chinese Communist Party. They are there to ensure that Australia’s views are heard and respected.
Kieran Gilbert
This visit has obviously come before the Trump meeting, but then you look to Washington and there’s quite a bit of uncertainty there with the MAGA Trump fight, it’s unpredictable. Do you cut the government?
Senator Cash
It’s a really good question. I think Mr. Albanese has now had a six day extended trip to our largest trading partner, China. What he now needs to do is firmly turn his international attention to the relationship with our greatest ally, the foundation of our security, and the leader of the free world, the United States. I mean, there is now a growing list of issues between Australia and the United States.
Kieran Gilbert
It’s an unpredictable ally at the moment.
Senator Cash
It is an unpredictable ally, and that is why we must be doing everything that we can do to ensure the strength of the United States-Australia relationship. I mean Kieran when you have respective commentators like Greg Sheridan saying Mr. Albanese, by his actions, for reasons only known to himself, is seeking to either diminish or deliberately undermine the US, Australia, relationship that should be of concern.
Kieran Gilbert
The PM – just to respond – because he has said in the last few days that he’s going to meet President Trump on several occasions before the end of the year – at the G20, at APEC the Quad.
Senator Cash
Mr Albanese talks a big game when it comes to the US-Australia relationship. By his actions, as I said, respected commentators even are now saying that has clearly been put on the back burner. He needs to be actively out there getting assurances on the AUKUS alliance, but also overnight, Mr. Trump, President Trump and the president of Indonesia, a trade deal has been struck. Where is our trade deal with the United States? Again? Mr. Albanese, you’ve had your six day extended visit with our greatest trading partner. You now need to prioritize the relationship. the bedrock of our security, with the leader of the free world, the United States of America. Long live the Australia, United States Alliance. That is what provides us with our security.
Kieran Gilbert
The Shadow Foreign Minister, Michaelia Cash, very much appreciate your time.
Senator Cash
Great to be with you.
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