Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed criticism that he is spending too much time abroad, proclaiming that “he has not had a day off in a long time”.
Key points:
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made three trips abroad since his election about six weeks ago
- Opposition members say Mr Albanese is not focusing on internal issues
- The PM will tour the areas affected by the NSW floods on Wednesday
Since his election victory on May 21, Albanese has made three trips abroad.
His first, in Tokyo for the Quad security meeting, was a few hours after his oath.
Shortly afterwards he made his first official state visit to Indonesia and last week set off on a European tour that included the NATO summit, a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and a stop in Kyiv. to see Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Several opposition MPs have questioned the prime minister’s travel schedule, and shadow immigration minister Dan Tehan has called the trips “worrying”.
“What we are seeing from Mr Albanese is very focused on everything international and we are starting to see a serious drift when it comes to incredibly important national issues, such as energy, such as skills shortages, such as these floods in the ones we face now. on the east coast, “Tehan said Monday.
Anthony Albanese was invited to see the effects of the war in Ukraine by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (AP: Nariman El-Mofty)
However, during an impromptu press conference on his return from Europe, the prime minister responded to the allegations.
“I attended the Quad Leaders’ Meeting the next day [being sworn in after the election]. It was not my decision. That was a decision by the former prime minister to hold elections on May 21, “Albanese said.
“I attended the NATO summit. It was important that Australia was represented, it was important that we deal with the relationship with France and Europe, and I think my visit to Ukraine was important to show solidarity.
“We can’t separate international events from impact in Australia and Australians, and these people would like to say what events I have attended on behalf of Australia that I should not have attended.”
Albanese rejected claims that Labor had been too harsh with Scott Morrison to be slow to reach areas affected by the floods.
“I haven’t had a day off in a long time,” he said.
“If people want to argue that I’m not working hard, they can argue this case.”
Albanese is due to visit areas affected by NSW floods on Wednesday.
The Liberal Prime Minister of New South Wales, Dominic Perrottet, has also defended the Prime Minister.
He told reporters on Tuesday that Albanese had contacted him from Europe.
“I won’t go into where I was, from an operational perspective, but he called me yesterday as soon as he could,” Perrottet said.
“It’s abroad in a job that’s important to Australia.”