Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull talks about ‘that phone call’

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has had a big week.  His very public conversation with US President Trump as well as a Newspoll showing that if an election was held today that the Coalition might lose in a landslide.

Trying to end the hearsay about his conversation with President Trump and the growing unrest that Australians seem to be having towards politicians, Mr Turnbull appeared on 60 Minutes to talk about it all, or so we thought.

After all, the promotion for the show had been about him being frank about the discussion and the issues at hand the interview was had a very wide focus.  The Prime Minister did confirm that the conversation that he had with President Trump was “frank and forthright” he did reiterate that US intended to honour the deal made with President Obama to relocate refugees to the US.  A deal that Trump called “dumb” on Twitter but Mr Turnbull said, “It’s a deal that President Trump entered into, he would not have to honour it, but he has committed”.

Less was said in this “tell-all” interview than when the Prime Minister stated last week, “I’m not going to comment on the conversation. During the course of the conversation, as you know and it was confirmed by the President’s officials spokesman, the President assured me that he would continue with — honour the agreement we entered into with the Obama administration with respect top refugee resettlement”.

As Mr Turnbull is convinced that President Trump will honour the deal interviewer Laurie Oakes asked an important question, “What now if the Trump Administration comes to you and says, ‘we want troops for some Middle Eastern adventure’ or ‘we want ships in the South China Sea’? Do you now see yourself as indebted? And does he see you as indebted?”

Mr Turnbill responded with “We assess all requests for military assistance on their merits”.  He added, “And there is no linkage, no linkage at all between an arrangement relating to a refugee resettlement and any other matters.”

.@TurnbullMalcolm tells @LaurieOakes he stood up for Australia & @realDonaldTrump has given a commitment ‘to honour the deal.' #60Mins pic.twitter.com/bc0dzbmTSy

— 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) February 5, 2017

What do you think?  Do you believe that there is something that the Prime Minister isn’t sharing with us?  Or is there not much to share?