Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Christmas interview turns sour
Anthony Albanese has sparred with a radio host while facing questions about the Australian military and his past appearance at an anti-Israel rally.
The Prime Minister was being interviewed by Susie Elelman on 2GB on Christmas Day when the conversation turned sour.
The interview, which took place while Mr Albanese was at a lunch put on for the homeless in Sydney, was cut short by the Prime Minister.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“ … there’s footage going around of what looks like you on a microphone at an anti-Israeli rally … is that fake news? Is it you or a doppelganger,” Elelman asked.
Mr Albanese said he had not seen the footage and had “no idea” what the radio host was talking about.
“I’m not going to comment on something that you are not showing me, with respect. And if you were going to (ask]) it would have been normal to show someone,” Mr Albanese said.
It appears that she was asking about footage that has been posted online of Mr Albanese at a rally in Martin Place earlier in his parliamentary career.
Mr Albanese is speaking into a megaphone at the rally, standing next to a banner that reads “Stop the Israeli slaughter, free Palestine now”.
“The stance of Israel is to meet children throwing rocks with helicopter gunships, with tanks and with missiles,” Mr Albanese says at the rally.
Pushed on the issue and whether he had been involved in anti-Israeli rallies, Mr Albanese said he had always been a supporter of a two-state solution.
“I have been involved in the Middle East and have consistently, consistently supported the state of Israel’s right to exist within secure borders but also the right of Palestinians,” he said.
The interview took a further turn for the worse when Elelman questioned whether Wilson Security was guarding Australian military bases while servicemen were off for Christmas.
Mr Albanese did not confirm or deny that was true, saying that “today was not a day to question our Defence Force”.
“Our Australian Defence Force look after our nation … and I tell you what our Australian Defence Force are doing here and internationally today is that they’re working for the defence of our nation and they deserve our thanks each and every day,” he said.
Mr Albanese ended the interview there, with Elelman then telling listeners that would likely be the “last time” she would get the chance to speak to Mr Albanese on Christmas Day.
“I think I’ve not made the Prime Minister have a very Merry Christmas, but then again, that wasn’t my intention,” she said.
Originally published as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Christmas interview turns sour
