The Prime Minister is tipped to ‘ruffle feathers’ in Washington tonight when he delivers a keynote speech invoking the wartime leadership of John Curtin.
Anthony Albanese is set to spruik Australia’s independence in the face of uncertainty over US trade tariffs and our nuclear submarine deal.
The government is dusting off the playbook of the wartime prime minister, 80 years after the passing of the leader who, let down by Britain, “looked to America”.
According to Assistant Minister to the PM, Patrick Gorman, it’s “recognising that Australia should stand on our own two feet”.
Tonight, the Prime Minister is looking inwards and honouring John Curtin with a speech spruiking Australia’s “determination to think and act for ourselves”.
“Undoubtedly, Albanese is sending a message to Washington and the Trump administration that Australia is ultimately in control of its own destiny,” Professor James Curran of University of Sydney told 9News.
We have seen eight decades of an enduring US friendship and strategic partnership.
But several months after Donald Trump’s inauguration, Anthony Albanese is yet to book a face-to-face with the president.
“I don’t believe Mr Albanese has done all he can here to strengthen Australia’s position in relation to the United States,” Shadow Attorney-General Julian Leeser said.
Curtin and Chifley are two wartime Prime Ministers who re-wrote Australia’s foreign policy playbook.
Tonight, the Prime Minister will point out he too has forged new security ties in our region, rebuilt relationships with China and is now looking at a free trade deal with Europe.
“Here we are talking about the opportunity to run a more independent course from Washington,” Curran said.
“I’d say this will ruffle feathers of Uncle Sam.”
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