Cameras have captured Anthony Albanese arriving noticeably late for the traditional group photo of leaders on the final day of the annual Pacific Islands Forum.
As 18 other country leaders waited in the hot Tongan sun on Thursday, there was one notable absentee, with an empty red chair reserved for Australia’s prime minister.
As the other leaders looked around, wondering where he was and what was the reason for the delay, Mr. Albanese suddenly stepped forward and ran towards the group.
Despite there being only one empty seat in the front row, Albanese didn’t know where to sit. Some viewers thought he looked like “an embarrassing uncle.”
Finally, someone showed him to his chair and Albo took his place.
At least he was wearing the right gear: a brightly colored short-sleeved shirt and a traditional Tongan kahoa leis, matching the other leaders, as tradition dictates.
The other leaders in the Pacific looked on with amusement and bewilderment as they awaited the Australians’ arrival.
But they were likely less amused by Mr Albanese’s “hot mic” moment, when he was captured live on camera in a candid conversation with a senior US official.
Pacific Islands leaders are pictured on Thursday waiting in the Tongan sun for latecomer Anthony Albanese
Mr Albanese was caught on camera arriving late for the traditional leaders’ photo taken on the last day of the Pacific Islands Forum annual meeting (see photo)
The footage and audio shows Albanian and US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell discussing the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI), under which Australia will fund the $400 million plan.
When Campbell said the US would withdraw and let Australia implement the policy, Albanese joked that he would welcome US involvement if it halved the cost.
The PPI, which will be rolled out over the next five years, was approved on Wednesday by leaders attending the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum.
This involves police units from several countries, four training centres in the region and a coordination centre in Brisbane. Australia and the US want to strengthen their regulatory role in the Pacific to counter China’s strategic interests in the region.
“Well, we’ve had a cracker today with the Pacific Policing Initiative,” the prime minister was heard saying. “It’s so important. It’s going to make such a difference.”
Mr Campbell praised the initiative, calling it “fantastic” and “wonderful”.
“I spoke to Kevin about it,” he said, referring to Australia’s ambassador to the US, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
“So you know we were going to do something (but) he asked us not to, so we didn’t. We gave you the lane. So take the lane.”
“If you want, you can halve the price,” Albanese joked, laughing and patting him on the shoulder, which made the U.S. official chuckle.
“It’ll only cost you… a little,” he added.
The video was recorded by Radio New Zealand journalist Lydia Lewis and posted on social media.
A relieved Anthony Albanese finally found his seat on the far left of the front row after arriving late
At the end of the footage, Pacific Minister Pat Conroy reprimanded the journalist for filming the exchange, saying, “Come on, Lydia.”
On Thursday morning, Mr Albanese accused Lewis of being unethical and filming him without his consent.
“It was a private conversation, a happy, friendly conversation,” said Albanese, who described Campbell as “a buddy of mine.”
“The video is what it is. It’s up to whoever did that to think about their own ethics when it comes to journalism.”
He added that if he were a journalist, he “wouldn’t do that.”
Regardless of its popular moment, Pacific leaders have hailed the PPI as a sign of unity and shared responsibility. It is a major strategic victory for Australia as it stands its ground against China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
Along with the other leaders, Mr Albanese (pictured) wore a brightly coloured shirt and a traditional Tongan kahoa leis
There were mixed reactions on social media to Albanese’s late arrival for the leaders’ photo on Thursday.
An Albanian parody account on X was quick to joke about the incident.
“I arrived late for the Pacific Island Leaders photo and had to laugh when I couldn’t find my seat,” the images read.
“Island Time, I think, is what they usually call it.”
Some viewers didn’t think the incident was that big of a deal.
“Sounds like a memorable entrance,” someone joked.
Others, however, were less impressed with Mr Albanese’s late arrival and the hot mic incident.
“You know what they say, you don’t have to have a long neck to be a goose! Unfortunately you cast a shadow on us all,” said one commenter.
Some felt that Australia’s huge contribution to policing in the Pacific should have earned the prime minister a better seat.
“$400 million and they stick him in there like an embarrassing uncle,” wrote one commenter.