House debates

Tuesday, 23 October 2018

Questions without Notice

Turnbull, Mr Malcolm

2:24 pm

Photo of Susan LambSusan Lamb (Longman, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm reports that he's asked Malcolm Turnbull to come out of retirement to represent the Australian government at an international summit on oceans this week?

Photo of Scott MorrisonScott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. Mr Turnbull will lead the Australian delegation at the next Our Ocean conference in Bali, on 29 to 30 October 2018. He was personally invited to attend that, originally, by the Indonesian President. It was a subject of our discussions when I met with the Indonesian President, President Widodo, and I was unable to follow through on that invitation.

So, to ensure that we had very senior level representation, which was well received by the President of Indonesia, I did request the former Prime Minister to represent us at that conference, and he will be there representing the policies of our government. In that capacity, I think he presents a very serious, a very senior and a duly recognised status of our relationship with Indonesia. I know that his attendance at that summit will be well recognised and appreciated by President Widodo, and I thank him for representing Australia on that occasion.