WONG: Thank you very much for coming. I wanted to make some comments about tomorrow’s Liberal party room and Coalition party room meeting. It seems self-evident that Mr Turnbull is going to get some amendments through the party room. Even the Liberal party are going to be able to meet that low bar. After all this time and all this arguing, I think that it is self-evident they will meet that low bar. But the real test for Mr Turnbull’s leadership, the real test of Mr Turnbull’s leadership will be to come out of the party room, committing to a vote on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in November and putting forward amendments which are fiscally responsible and environmentally credible. If Mr Turnbull is not able to come out of his party room committing to a vote in November and putting forward sensible amendments then it is clear that he continues to be ruled by the Liberal party sceptics who regrettably continue to dominate the Liberal party’s position. Happy to take questions.

JOURNALIST: You talked about the low bar. Can you explain some more of that?

WONG: We’ve had an enormous amount of division, discussion and public fighting within the Liberal party on the issue of climate change. I think even the Liberal party is going to be able to get itself to a position of putting forward something to the Government. But the real test of Mr Turnbull’s leadership is as I said: are the amendments economically responsible, environmentally credible? And is he going to be able to commit to a vote on this important legislation in November? That is when it is up for debate in the Parliament. We have had a lot of delay, a lot of inaction and a lot of division.

JOURNALIST: Would you consider cutting electricity prices for small business a sensible amendment?

WONG: We will look at the amendments that are put forward by the Opposition. As I’ve said for some months now, we are prepared to have a good faith negotiation with them and we look forward to them putting forward sensible amendments; amendments that are both economically responsible and also environmentally credible. And we will wait and see what amendments are put forward by Mr Turnbull.

JOURNALIST:  Minister, do you think the general public has got much of a grasp about the policies from any of the major parties on this issue?

WONG:  Well first I’m not sure what the Liberal party policy is. And I think it would be quite understandable if the general public didn’t know what the Liberal party’s policy is. Mr Howard went to the last election promising an emissions trading scheme much like the one that is being put forward by the Government and is being debated in the Parliament. But certainly since that time we’ve seen a whole range of positions being put forward by members of the Liberal party. It seems to the Government that it is very clear Australians do want action on climate change. That’s what we committed to at the last election. And we believe it is absolutely in Australia’s national interest to act on climate change.

JOURNALIST: On a slightly different topic, is Kevin Rudd doing deals with the Indonesian government with asylum seekers? If so, what sort of deals is he doing?

WONG: Well look I’m not going to go into detail of contact between other governments and the Prime Minister. But I would say it is obviously a sensible thing for the Australian Government to look at ways of working cooperatively in our region to counter people smuggling. The approach we are taking in relation to immigration is an approach that is tough but also humane and fair. And it is focused very much on what is in Australia’s best interests.

JOURNALIST:  But is the Rudd Government looking to make changes to aid, to fund detention centres?

WONG:  Well as I said, I’m not going to go into details of what may or may not be discussed between the governments. It’s obviously not my portfolio area but what I will say is that we are very focused on the national interest here and a policy that is humane and fair, but also tough.

JOURNALIST: If Indonesia is taking more of a role in this, why should we have to pay for it?

WONG: As I said, I’m not going to go into the detail of that particular issue. But I will say that it is sensible for this Government to consider what are the best ways we can work cooperatively in our region to counter people smuggling. That is a very sensible approach to take.

JOURNALIST:  Could our border security be tougher?

WONG: Well as I’ve said, we’ve got an approach that is tough but also humane and fair and this is very much focused on the national interest. And that is sensible and appropriate.

JOURNALIST: Could you say what is the advantage of Indonesia taking a stronger role?

WONG: I think I’ve answered that question and I’m not going into the detail of these issues. They are obviously matters that are for dialogue between governments. But more broadly as I said, we have a policy approach that is humane and fair as well as being tough, and that’s sensible.

JOURNALIST: What was your personal reaction, not as a member of the Government, when you saw the vision of the latest arrivals and especially the plea made by the young girl?

WONG: Can I say, I am a member of the Government and I support the Government’s position. It is a difficult situation; these are difficult issues. But the focus has to be on making sure we have a sensible policy. A policy that is fair, that is humane but that is also tough. And what I say again is that it is not sensible for any government to do anything which would encourage people smuggling. What we have to do is take the approach that the government is taking.

JOURNALIST: But as a human being first and foremost.

WONG: I think I’ve answered that question.

JOURNALIST: Just quickly on the ETS. I just wanted to clarify – you were talking about Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership. So you are saying that that all hinges on his management of this?

WONG: What I’m saying is I think even the Liberal party is going to make the low bar of getting some amendments put forward and some amendments agreed. The real test of leadership for Mr Turnbull is whether he can commit to a vote in November and whether the amendments are both economically responsible and environmentally credible. That’s the real test of Mr Turnbull’s leadership.

ENDS