Anthony Albanese LOSES IT at a pack of reporters over trouble in Labor over AUKUS nuclear subs
Anthony Albanese LOSES to a group of reporters when asked about trouble in the Labor ranks: ‘Seriously, have some respect!’
- Anthony Albanese snapped at reporters about AUKUS
- He was asked if he has full party support
Anthony Albanese snapped at reporters who wondered if trouble was brewing within the Labor Party over the historic AUKUS deal.
The prime minister was questioned about three MPs from his own side of politics questioning the $368 billion nuclear submarine deal as he walked the corridors of Parliament House on Tuesday.
The prime minister was trying to avoid questions about whether rifts were beginning to appear within the ALP ranks when he was approached by a group of reporters.
“Seriously – have some respect for these people, thanks,” he said, pointing to the crowd that had gathered for an unrelated matter.
A visibly frustrated Prime Minister flipped through the press kit without going into further detail.
Albanese last week announced an agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom to supply eight nuclear-powered submarines to Australia over the next 30 years.
The deal has been hailed as the country’s largest defense investment in history.
But on Monday Mr Wilson, the member for Fremantle, told Parliament he is not yet ‘convinced’ of the benefits of the deal.
“I am not yet convinced that we can adequately deal with the non-proliferation risks associated with what is a new arrangement whereby a non-nuclear-weapon state comes under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to acquire weapons-grade material,” he said. .
“I could be wrong about some of my concerns.
The Prime Minister was questioned about three MPs from his own side of politics questioning the $368 billion nuclear submarine deal as he walked the corridors of Parliament House on Tuesday
The prime minister was trying to avoid questions about whether rifts were beginning to appear within the ALP ranks when he was approached by a group of reporters.
“Maybe they’re baseless in a way I don’t see, and I can live with that, but I’d be wrong if I wasn’t willing to identify and voice those concerns that are based on my work” I’ve consistently done since I was first elected to this place on some of these issues.’
The comments came after former Labor leader Paul Keating denounced the deal, describing it as ‘the worst in history’.
Higgins MP Michelle Ananda-Rajah and Corangamite MP Libby Coker also reportedly questioned the deal at a Labor caucus meeting.
Dr. Ananda-Rajah later came out to publicly support her party. “I fully support the government’s announced AUKUS plan,” she said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the AUKUS plan along with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in San Diego last Tuesday