Anthony Albanese is slammed for making a huge snub as PM tries to shake off unflattering nickname: ‘Dereliction of duty’
Anthony Albanese came under heavy criticism after he turned down an invitation to attend a summit in the US.
The prime minister will not join a select group of world leaders at a NATO summit in Washington later this month.
Defense Minister Richard Marles will instead attend the event, along with leaders from the US, most Western European countries, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.
An anonymous source told the Sydney Morning Herald Albanese’s advisers warned him not to make the trip, saying his government is in trouble due to the cost of living crisis.
It has been reported that the trip could lead to criticism of Mr Albanese’s foreign travel, a habit that has earned him the nickname ‘Airbus Albo’.
The unfortunate nickname began circulating on social media and eventually in opposition commentary after the prime minister made 31 foreign trips in his first seven months in office.
Simon Birmingham, the Liberal Party’s shadow foreign secretary, on Tuesday accused Mr Albanese of “dereliction of duty” by not attending the summit.
“The most important responsibility of a government is the national security of the country,” he told Sky News.
Mr Albanese attended the two previous NATO summits, in the Spanish city of Madrid in 2022 and in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius last year, calling them “essentially the global meeting of the world’s democratic leaders”
“The combination of NATO and the four countries in the Asia-Pacific region is a combination of the very first types of countries, partners and allies that we would call upon if we were in trouble.”
Mr Birmingham claimed the Prime Minister was more concerned about winning votes.
“Anthony Albanese would rather campaign to shore up Labour’s marginal seats than sit down with NATO leaders to ensure that global security and our national security interests are heard. That is an appalling reflection of his priorities,” he said.
Mr Birmingham did not accept Mr Marles as a suitable replacement.
“We can expect the prime minister to fulfill his duties as leader of the country,” he said.
‘If Anthony Albanese has an absolutely compelling reason, let him explain why he can’t go.
‘But if he is only doing this because he would rather be campaigning at home or sorting out the internal chaos within the Labour Party, then that is not a good reason.’
Anthony Albanese has been criticised after turning down an invitation to attend a summit of world leaders in the US
An anonymous diplomatic source in Brussels said Mr Albanese’s decision ‘disappointing’.
“This meeting of leaders will hopefully send a message that the world’s leading democracies are united in preserving the rules-based order,” the leaders said.
‘Australia will be represented, but of course it would be even better if all the leaders of all the countries were there.’
According to a government source, Albanese made the decision after he was unable to confirm a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden.
Mr Albanese attended the previous two NATO summits, in 2022 in the Spanish city of Madrid and last year in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, which he called “in fact the global gathering of democratic leaders”.