Peter Dutton is now speaking to Afternoon Briefing.

Q: Peter Dutton, the Prime Minister has voiced concern about reports that Russia requested access to Indonesian air force base. He has said we obviously do not want to see Russian influence in our region. Very clearly. Do you agree with the Prime Minister?

Dutton:

Well, of course, but I think the question here is whether or not the government had any forewarning. This would be a catastrophic error in the government’s systems if DFAT, under Penny Wong, didn’t know anything about it. If the Prime Minister hadn’t spoken with the president, obviously the government was very critical of the former government in relation to engagements in South-East Asia. So, by the government’s own test, by the government’s own standard, if the government knew nothing about this, then I would be very surprised and I presume the Prime Minister will answer those questions.

Richard Marles has said there was prior warning – he said that there had been previous discussions on this.