Australian news and politics live: Labor says PM will meet with ‘friend’ Trump when it’s ‘convenient’
Scroll down for the latest news and updates.
Key Events
Hume: PM needs to ‘secure our AUKUS agreement’
Liberal Senator Jane Hume appeared alongside Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth on Sunrise, saying “hopefully we’re one step further towards a meeting between the Prime Minister and the President. It’s been 300 days since President Trump has elected, and still no meeting between our leaders and that’s a concern.”
It comes after an overnight conversation between the PM and Donald Trump was revealed, the fourth time since the President was re-elected, but when Mr Albanese described the chat, there was no mention of the trilateral security partnership.
“Anthony Albanese needs to step up and represent Team Australia with President Trump and particularly to secure our AUKUS agreements. We know that the US is doing a review right now and we also want to make sure we’re protected from further tariffs.”
Rishworth: Trump and Albanese will meet when ‘it’s convenient’
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth has been asked about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump’s overnight phone call, which has been described by the PM as “another warm and constructive conversation”.
When asked if tariffs were discussed, “I have no doubt there were a lot of important things discussed. Of course, we have the lowest trade tariffs of any country in the world when it comes to the US, but doubt this builds on what is already a warm relationship between the two of them,” Ms Rishworth told Sunrise on Friday morning.
“Sometimes I don’t get my friends but I’m on the phone. And so I think, obviously, as the Prime Minister’s indicated, they will meet when it’s convenient for both parties, but look, I think, clearly, there’s a connection there with four phone calls.
Mr Albanese is heading to New York for the UN General Assembly later this month, where Australia will formally recognise a Palestinian state, but there’s still no word of whether he’ll meet with the US President.
PM speaks to Trump but no word on US meeting
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken with Donald Trump for the fourth time since the President was re-elected, describing it as a “another warm and constructive conversation”.
The leaders discussed economic cooperation between Australia and the United States.
They spoke about opportunities to work together on trade and critical minerals in the interests of both nations.
Leaders also discussed the strength of our relationship and the importance of our shared security interests.
But there was no word on when the two leaders will hold their first face-to-face meeting, which Australia has been pursuing since Mr Trump’s elevation to the presidency in November.
