Anthony Albanese has come under fire after turning down an invitation to attend a summit in the United States.
The Prime Minister will not join a select group of world leaders at a Nato summit in Washington later this month.
Instead, Defence Minister Richard Marles will attend the event, joining leaders from the United States, most Western European countries, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.
An anonymous source told the The Sydney Morning Herald Albanese’s advisers had warned him not to make the trip because his government is overwhelmed by the cost of living crisis.
Concerns were reportedly expressed that the trip could add fuel to the fire of criticism over Albanese’s foreign travel, a habit that earned him the nickname “Airbus Albo”.
The unfortunate nickname began circulating on social media and eventually in opposition comments after Prime Minister… He racked up 31 foreign trips in his first seven months in office.
Liberal shadow foreign minister Simon Birmingham on Tuesday accused Albanese of committing “a dereliction of duty” by not attending the summit.
“The number one responsibility of a government is the national security of the nation,” he told Sky News.
Albanese attended the previous two NATO summits, in the Spanish city of Madrid in 2022 and in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius last year, calling them “essentially the global meeting of the world’s democratic leaders.”
‘NATO nations coming together with the four Asia-Pacific nations is a grouping of the first kinds of nations, partners and allies that we would turn to if we were in trouble.’
Mr Birmingham said the Prime Minister was more concerned with winning votes.
“Anthony Albanese would rather be campaigning to shore up marginal Labour seats than sitting down with Nato leaders to ensure global security and our national security interests are heard – it is an appalling representation of his priorities,” he said.
Mr Birmingham did not accept Mr Marles as a suitable replacement.
“We must expect the Prime Minister to do his job as the leader of the nation,” he said.
‘Now if Anthony Albanese has an absolutely compelling reason, let him explain why he can’t go.
“But if this is simply because I would rather be at home campaigning or dealing with and responding to the internal chaos in the Labour Party, well, that’s not a good enough reason.”
Anthony Albanese has come under fire after turning down an invitation to join a summit of world leaders in the US.
An anonymous diplomatic source in Brussels said Mr Albanese’s decision was ‘disappointing’.
“We hope this meeting of leaders will send a message that the world’s leading democracies are united when it comes to preserving the rules-based order,” they said.
“Australia will be represented, but of course it would be preferable to have all the leaders of all nations present.”
A government source said Albanese made the decision after failing to confirm a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden.
Mr Albanese attended the previous two Nato summits, in the Spanish city of Madrid in 2022 and in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius last year, calling them “essentially the global meeting of the world’s democratic leaders”.