Albanese heads to Asia for key meetings as Rudd fallout continues

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set for a week of high-level diplomacy with regional leaders, even as domestic controversy over ambassador Kevin Rudd persists.

After visiting Uluru to mark 40 year since the handback, Albanese landed in Malaysia tonight to meet with Pacific leaders at ASEAN.

"Jobs, security will be my focus in the coming days," he said.

The prime minister is buoyed by new opportunities stemming from the critical minerals deal signed in the White House.

"This is a program that could set us up for success. Just as iron ore and our resources have been in the last century," he said.

"This is absolutely critical."

After ASEAN comes the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Seoul, South Korea, and the week culminates in a summit of superpowers between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud said: "There's an opportunity for us to take a leadership role – particularly between the United States and China.

Close calls in the Pacific, the war in Ukraine and escalating tariffs are on the agenda.

"When you see two large trading partners going toe-to-toe there is a contagion impact that flows through to Australia as well," Littleproud said.

Rudd won't be there this time around. He'll remain in Washington – where Trump has forgiven but not forgotten

"I think a long time ago he said something bad. When they say bad about me I don't forget," Trump said this weekend.

Labor minister Murray Watt backed Rudd in.

"We measure these these things by results that are actually delivered. Ambassador Rudd is clearly done an excellent job," he said.

But the Coalition was seemingly back out on the ambassador

Deputy Nationals leader Susan McDonald called it "the biggest diplomatic slap down I can think of".

"He is trying to flag how impossible the situation is," she said.

When asked if he needed to "sub Kevin Rudd out", Albanese said no.