LAURA JAYES: The Acting Opposition Leader Penny Wong joins me out of Adelaide this afternoon. Senator Wong, thanks so much for your time this afternoon.
SENATOR PENNY WONG, ACTING LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION: Good to be with you.
JAYES: Weve heard from Julie Bishop earlier in the day, saying that China really needs to lead the charge here, in terms of ramifications that North Korea will face following this nuclear testing. Do you agree?
WONG: I think the international community should speak as one, and it is. We join with the UN Secretary-General in his condemnation of this incident. Of course, as yet, we dont have confirmation of the precise nature of the incident, but obviously the nuclear program of North Korea is a threat to global security and to regional stability.
In terms of China, I welcome the comments of the Chinese Foreign Ministry earlier today, which are reported, opposing the test and calling on North Korea to denuclearise, as it has previously committed to. So I think China and all international actors need to speak as one about a threat to global security, which is the nuclear program in North Korea.
JAYES: When we speak of sanctions against North Korea, this is already a very highly sanctioned nation. What is left to be thrown at them?
WONG: Look, I think this is an area where the international community, and particularly the Security Council, needs to and Im sure will look very closely and carefully about how international pressure can be applied to the regime. This is a very concerning set of events that were seeing reported and I agree with Julie Bishop, this is a threat to global security. So the key thing here is to make sure all international actors are able to work together to apply as much pressure to the regime as is possible.
JAYES: Do you appreciate the situation that China is in? Obviously it has been described as a relationship with North Korea that at times has been close as lips and teeth, in recent times it has been really frustrated with North Korea, but China is also quite concerned that if the regime does collapse there would be hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers and refugees making their way across the border into China. So, do you appreciate that delicate balance?
WONG: Look, I think China thinks very deeply about the ramifications of what is occurring in North Korea and obviously its far closer to the regime geographically and so sometimes the issues you raise obviously are front of mind for the Chinese. But I again refer back to the very unequivocal statement that the Foreign Ministry released today and I think that made very clear the Chinese position that North Korea should denuclearise, should abandon its program as its previously indicated it would, or that it should, and also that China is completely opposed to the test. So thats a very welcome statement and one I think that the whole international community needs to join in, as the Secretary-General has made clear.
JAYES: On a completely unrelated and separate matter, in the last half an hour or so weve seen shares on the Chinese stock market plunge about seven percent. Analysts are voicing concerns over Chinas aggressive devaluation of its currency. Are you concerned that this is manipulating and effectively hurts the Australian businesses that are trading with China?
WONG: We have seen a fair bit of volatility on global equities markets. Weve also seen some volatility and some purported instability in terms of the Chinese stock market. Chinas going through an economic rebalance and that obviously has its own set of challenges for the Chinese. Im not going to make negative comment about particular decisions because I think what is in our interest long term is a Chinese economy that does appropriately rebalance and continues to contribute to global growth in the way that China has over the last decade. Thats obviously been very important for Australias economic stability and for global economic growth.
JAYES: Returning home now, looking at more domestic issues, there is widespread speculation that Warren Truss may make his intentions clear about his future in politics over the next couple of months. Barnaby Joyce at the moment is looking as the likely successor as Leader of the Nationals. How does Labor feel about that?
WONG: I think Barnabys campaigning, isnt that what hes doing? Theres no other way, I dont think, to read his public comments and some of the media that hes been getting in the last 24 hours. Look, Barnabys entertaining, but I think hes pretty erratic and I think he doesnt present in the way that most Australians would expect senior politicians to present. But more importantly, I dont know that hes taken the sort of sober, sensible and responsible approach to public policy Australians do expect. If Barnaby Joyce becomes Leader of the National Party, he becomes the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. That is a very senior position. And I think even Barnabys own colleagues are expressing some concern about that prospect.
JAYES: I think it would be fair to say though that he does speak to his constituents, those that are on Barnabys side certainly like to see his brand of politics. Not that Labor does get a say in whos the next Leader of the Nationals, but would you have a preferred candidate?
WONG: Look, thats a matter for the National Party, and as I said, Barnabys entertaining and hes certainly interesting to listen to. He was very interesting when he was Shadow Finance Minister and gave, I think, you and a whole range of other people in the Press Gallery a lot of interesting footage. But do you really want the bloke as Deputy Prime Minister?
JAYES: One final question and reports today that the CFMEU and MUA is looking at merging. Do you have any concerns about that?
WONG: Look, thats a matter for them. And Id make the point that union amalgamations have been a feature of the industrial landscape for a very long time, so ultimately thats a matter for them.
JAYES: Bob Hawke, in recent days, has said that Labor should distance itself from the CFMEU though. Do you think that warning will be heeded?
WONG: We should always condemn inappropriate behaviour where ever it occurs and we do. And in terms of industrial regulation we improved the regime in government, we made the regime more robust. And weve also proposed to Malcolm Turnbull additional improvements and safeguards in the regulation of industrial organisations, employer and employee, but ultimately I think what we have seen from the Government is a very blatant political attack on the trade union movement. This from a Government who of course wants hack into penalty rates and a whole range of other entitlements that Australians have.
JAYES: Im sure well be talking about that much more in this election year, 2016. Acting Opposition Leader, Senator Penny Wong, as always thanks for your time.
WONG: Good to be with you.
