Australian news and politics recap June 18: Chalmers ‘proud’ but not ‘satisfied’ as Labor maps next steps

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he has not been asked to send Australian defence assets to the Middle East amid escalating tension in the region.

Mr Albanese was asked if he had received a request after meeting with several world leaders at the G7 on Tuesday (local time).

“No,” he told reporters.

“In the discussions I’ve always had with our European friends…they understand our priority is where we are in the world.

“And so, ‘no’, is the clear answer to that.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shared some photos on social media from his friendly catch-up with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The pair discussed the continuation of work on clean energy, economic growth, security and promoting free and fair trade.

Their meeting came after Sir Keir said the UK would proceed with the AUKUS deal while standing alongside US President Donald Trump.

Earlier at the G7 summit, Mr Albanese said no relationship is more important than Australia’s ties with the UK.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sounds more hopeful about landing a trade deal with the European Union after his meeting earlier today with its leaders.

Australia walked away from the talks in 2023 after the Europeans wouldn’t budge on geographical naming rights and access for sheep meat and beef.

Mr Albanese said Australia still took the strong position that if the deal wasn’t in our national interest, the Government wouldn’t sign up in the renewed negotiations.

“But there are two or three issues, half of which have been resolved, I think satisfactorily,” he said.

“I am hopeful that we’ll get a deal done. Importantly, both of us emphasise that at this time – it’s the substance is what’s important, but at this time, it’s also symbolically important to see an outcome of an expansion of trade, because that is something that is, you know, going through difficult times at the moment.”

One of the things Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had hoped to speak with US President Donald Trump about was the AUKUS pact after the Pentagon announced a snap review of the submarine deal.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer – as the third AUKUS partner – said yesterday the UK was proceeding with the deal and it was “a really important deal to both of us”, while standing alongside Mr Trump.

Mr Albanese was asked if he’d asked Sir Keir for any assurance the US President was in favour of AUKUS.

“I’ve seen nothing to suggest otherwise,” Mr Albanese said.

“It’s not up to me to speak on behalf of others – whether it is President Trump or Prime Minister Starmer. But Prime Minister Starmer, of course, has made public statements and the US Defence Secretary has made it clear … as well.”

Asked about the cancelled meeting with President Trump, Mr Albanese said Australia and the other countries that had also missed out on talks were “all mature about that” and the change was understandable given the serious situation in the Middle East.

“We’ll meet soon, and I’m sure that will occur. From time to time, meetings are rescheduled. That’s what happens,” he said.

Yesterday, Mr Albanese announced Defence Minister Richard Marles would represent Australia at the NATO meeting next week, which is expected to include the US.

Asked today whether he was now thinking of attending that meeting himself, Mr Albanese says, “Yes, that is being considered.”

Anthony Albanese is speaking now from Kananaskis to wrap up his visit to the G7.

While Donald Trump left before they could meet, the Prime Minister has had talks with other top US officials including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant and trade representative Jamieson Greer.

“We made the point very clearly to the American trade representative and to the treasury secretary that the FTA has delivered for both the United States and Australia for a couple of decades now,” Mr Albanese said.

“We also discussed how Australia can support the United States on critical minerals.”

Read the full story here.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with senior Trump officials after his crucial meeting with the US President fell through.

Mr Albanese met with Donald Trump’s principal economic advisor and the National Economic Council director, Kevin Hassett, US trade representative Jamieson Greer, and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Australia’s US Ambassador Kevin Rudd also attended the meeting, and the group discussed trade, tariffs, critical minerals, and rare earths.

Following the announcement that Mr Albanese’s meeting with Mr Trump would not proceed, a government spokesperson said the cancellation was understandable “given what is occurring in the Middle East”.

​Read the full story here​.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will join talks with the European Union to discuss a security and defence partnership following a meeting with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa at the G7 summit.

“I very much welcome the EU’s offer for a Security and Defence Partnership and Australia will armly take it up and commence work immediately,” Mr Albanese said in a statement.

“This will open the door to joint defence procurement opportunities and will benefit both our industries and our security.

“At a time of global uncertainty, it is our collective responsibility to work together to uphold peace, security and economic prosperity.”

The partnership would establish a framework for collaboration between Australia and the EU in areas such as the defence industry, cybersecurity and counterterroism.

There’s no relationship that is more important than Australia’s ties with the UK, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said ahead of a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the G7 Summit in Canada.

“We do share values. We have a great economic relationship with the free trade agreement that’s really worked in both of our interests. We have considerable investment that’s two-way,” he said as the two leaders prepared to take a walk in the Canadian wilderness for a deeper conversation.

Mr Albanese also spruiked their strengthening defence relationship, giving a nod to the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pact and the Australian Defence Forces training missions for Ukrainian troops in the UK.

Earlier in the summit, Sir Keir had confirmed AUKUS was a “really important deal” for the UK amid concerns over a snap Pentagon review of the $368b program.

Donald Trump’s sudden departure from the G7 denied Mr Albanese his first direct meeting with the US President, but the Prime Minister has also held bilaterals with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and an informal discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Mr Albanese promoted Australia’s new Strategic Reserve for critical Minerals as a way of “meeting increasing global demand”.

“Our new Strategic Reserve will allow us to deal with trade and market disruptions while meeting increasing global demand.”

“I am pleased that Australia is joining the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, which will support secure, diversified critical minerals supply chains.

“We welcome efforts to level the playing field and establish a stable market that reflects the real costs of delivering high-standard products and trade practices.”