Kevin Hogan says Anthony Albanese's lack of action to meet with Trump a ‘real shame' amid PM's trip to China
Kevin Hogan made the comments as Mr Albanese prepared to arrive back on home soil after a six-day charm offensive in China where he focused on stabilising Australia's relationship with its key trading partner.
During the tour Mr Albanese met with Mr Xi, his fourth meeting with the Chinese President, as well as Premier Li Qiang and National People's Congress chairman Zhao Leji, in a bid to strengthen the country's economic ties.
Mr Hogan said it was important Mr Albanese made the visit, but added: 'I think it's a shame he doesn't have the same exuberance, if you like, to meet with the US President and go to the US, but that's something we need to work on'.
He acknowledged Mr Albanese was working to secure a meeting with Mr Trump and said it was 'important we continue to reach out'.
'I think it's good the Prime Minister went to China, I think it's good that he did the panda thing and re-enacted Gough Whitlam's Great Wall of China visit. I don't have a criticism of that,' he said on Friday.
'They are an important trading partner, I'm glad the Prime Minister has visited there and been there for that reason. I'm just adding it's a real shame he doesn't have the same exuberance about doing that with the US President.'
Opposition Finance Minister James Paterson on Thursday slammed the trip, saying though the Coalition had provided bipartisan support for the Government's trade mission, the visit had started to look 'a little bit indulgent'.
Senator Paterson argued the appropriate time to do a 'nostalgic history tour of Labor Party mythology' was in retirement, not after failing to meet the US President since his election.
Mr Albanese has come under intense pressure to lock in a meeting with Mr Trump after the Pentagon called a snap review into the future of the AUKUS pact. Mr Trump's trade tariffs have also been a sore point.
'We have profoundly serious issues at stake in that bilateral relationship as well, including potentially tariffs on one of our largest export industries to the United States, pharmaceuticals,' Senator Paterson said.
Asked if Mr Albanese got the 'tone and balance right' with his trip, shadow Defence Minister Angus Taylor said he was 'still trying to work out what he's coming home with'.
'He went down memory lane, listened to some Midnight Oil and went in the footsteps of Gough Whitlam, but we need more than that,' he said.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek on Friday said stabilising Australia's relationship with China 'has been important particularly for our farmers, our grain growers, our wine makers, our lobster fishermen'.
'The fact that the Prime Minister is in China at the moment shows the Australian Government's commitment to making sure that it continues to be a strong economic relationship,' she told the ABC.
'The Prime Minister's had a roundtable about our iron ore exports to China.
'The iron ore that Australia exports is the largest source of foreign iron ore in China. We know how important steelmaking is for the modern economy.
'The Prime Minister's visited a tourism business. Chinese tourism to Australia is the largest source of tourism by value, it's worth more than $9 billion a year already.
'And so, people should see the potential benefits of increasing China's tourism to Australia. The hundreds of millions or billions of dollars of extra spending it will feed into the Australian economy as we see Chinese tourism increase.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Congo, rebel group step closer to permanent ceasefire
The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group have set a deadline to sign a peace agreement at a ceremony in Doha - a sign of progress as outstanding details are negotiated. Representatives of both sides signed a declaration of principles on Saturday, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters, agreeing to an August 18 deadline. The ceremony followed months of Qatari mediation since talks began in April. The United States, which has hosted separate talks between the governments of Congo and Rwanda, has exerted pressure to finalise a durable peace deal in Congo. President Donald Trump has made clear he hopes that will spur Western investment in a country rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals. The Rwandan and Congolese foreign ministers signed a peace deal in June and met with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Trump had invited Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to Washington at the time to sign a package of agreements, potentially including economic deals. The rebel group M23 has controlled eastern Congo's largest city, Goma, since late January - the latest in a series of uprisings - and made gains across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Rwanda has long denied allegations it has helped M23, which has seized more territory in Congo than it ever previously held. The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year, while escalating the risk of a full-scale regional war. Several of Congo's neighbours had troops deployed in eastern Congo when the advance began. Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi told reporters Saturday's declaration "lays the groundwork for a new phase of partnership among the various components of society in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - including armed movements that have chosen to prioritise the greater national interest". The declaration was brought about by talks that followed a surprise meeting between Congolese leader Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Kagame, brokered by Qatar in March, during which they called for an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire. Congo had previously rejected the idea of holding talks with M23, branding it a terrorist group. While denying it has supported M23, Rwanda has said its forces have acted in self-defence against Congo's army and ethnic Hutu militiamen linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Sources in both delegations have expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations in Doha and the lack of progress on confidence-building measures including the release of M23 members held by Congo and the re-opening of banks in rebel-held territory. The declaration of principles does not resolve those issues, instead committing the parties to "creating the necessary conditions" to eventually do so. It also does not address bigger questions concerning the possible Rwandan and M23 withdrawals from eastern Congo. It says Congo and M23 agree that state authority should be restored "on all national territories" as part of an eventual peace agreement but does not elaborate. The declaration "takes into account the red lines we have always defended, including the non-negotiable withdrawal" of M23, Congo government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said in a post on X on Saturday. Negotiations for a peace agreement are to start no later than August 8, according to the declaration, which would give the parties less than two weeks to finalise a deal if they stick to their new August 18 deadline. "We are confident and we are hopeful," Massad Boulos, Trump's senior adviser for Africa, told Reuters after Saturday's ceremony in Doha, adding Tshiskedi and Kagame "have both committed to resolving this". The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group have set a deadline to sign a peace agreement at a ceremony in Doha - a sign of progress as outstanding details are negotiated. Representatives of both sides signed a declaration of principles on Saturday, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters, agreeing to an August 18 deadline. The ceremony followed months of Qatari mediation since talks began in April. The United States, which has hosted separate talks between the governments of Congo and Rwanda, has exerted pressure to finalise a durable peace deal in Congo. President Donald Trump has made clear he hopes that will spur Western investment in a country rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals. The Rwandan and Congolese foreign ministers signed a peace deal in June and met with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Trump had invited Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to Washington at the time to sign a package of agreements, potentially including economic deals. The rebel group M23 has controlled eastern Congo's largest city, Goma, since late January - the latest in a series of uprisings - and made gains across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Rwanda has long denied allegations it has helped M23, which has seized more territory in Congo than it ever previously held. The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year, while escalating the risk of a full-scale regional war. Several of Congo's neighbours had troops deployed in eastern Congo when the advance began. Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi told reporters Saturday's declaration "lays the groundwork for a new phase of partnership among the various components of society in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - including armed movements that have chosen to prioritise the greater national interest". The declaration was brought about by talks that followed a surprise meeting between Congolese leader Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Kagame, brokered by Qatar in March, during which they called for an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire. Congo had previously rejected the idea of holding talks with M23, branding it a terrorist group. While denying it has supported M23, Rwanda has said its forces have acted in self-defence against Congo's army and ethnic Hutu militiamen linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Sources in both delegations have expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations in Doha and the lack of progress on confidence-building measures including the release of M23 members held by Congo and the re-opening of banks in rebel-held territory. The declaration of principles does not resolve those issues, instead committing the parties to "creating the necessary conditions" to eventually do so. It also does not address bigger questions concerning the possible Rwandan and M23 withdrawals from eastern Congo. It says Congo and M23 agree that state authority should be restored "on all national territories" as part of an eventual peace agreement but does not elaborate. The declaration "takes into account the red lines we have always defended, including the non-negotiable withdrawal" of M23, Congo government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said in a post on X on Saturday. Negotiations for a peace agreement are to start no later than August 8, according to the declaration, which would give the parties less than two weeks to finalise a deal if they stick to their new August 18 deadline. "We are confident and we are hopeful," Massad Boulos, Trump's senior adviser for Africa, told Reuters after Saturday's ceremony in Doha, adding Tshiskedi and Kagame "have both committed to resolving this". The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group have set a deadline to sign a peace agreement at a ceremony in Doha - a sign of progress as outstanding details are negotiated. Representatives of both sides signed a declaration of principles on Saturday, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters, agreeing to an August 18 deadline. The ceremony followed months of Qatari mediation since talks began in April. The United States, which has hosted separate talks between the governments of Congo and Rwanda, has exerted pressure to finalise a durable peace deal in Congo. President Donald Trump has made clear he hopes that will spur Western investment in a country rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals. The Rwandan and Congolese foreign ministers signed a peace deal in June and met with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Trump had invited Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to Washington at the time to sign a package of agreements, potentially including economic deals. The rebel group M23 has controlled eastern Congo's largest city, Goma, since late January - the latest in a series of uprisings - and made gains across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Rwanda has long denied allegations it has helped M23, which has seized more territory in Congo than it ever previously held. The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year, while escalating the risk of a full-scale regional war. Several of Congo's neighbours had troops deployed in eastern Congo when the advance began. Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi told reporters Saturday's declaration "lays the groundwork for a new phase of partnership among the various components of society in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - including armed movements that have chosen to prioritise the greater national interest". The declaration was brought about by talks that followed a surprise meeting between Congolese leader Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Kagame, brokered by Qatar in March, during which they called for an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire. Congo had previously rejected the idea of holding talks with M23, branding it a terrorist group. While denying it has supported M23, Rwanda has said its forces have acted in self-defence against Congo's army and ethnic Hutu militiamen linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Sources in both delegations have expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations in Doha and the lack of progress on confidence-building measures including the release of M23 members held by Congo and the re-opening of banks in rebel-held territory. The declaration of principles does not resolve those issues, instead committing the parties to "creating the necessary conditions" to eventually do so. It also does not address bigger questions concerning the possible Rwandan and M23 withdrawals from eastern Congo. It says Congo and M23 agree that state authority should be restored "on all national territories" as part of an eventual peace agreement but does not elaborate. The declaration "takes into account the red lines we have always defended, including the non-negotiable withdrawal" of M23, Congo government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said in a post on X on Saturday. Negotiations for a peace agreement are to start no later than August 8, according to the declaration, which would give the parties less than two weeks to finalise a deal if they stick to their new August 18 deadline. "We are confident and we are hopeful," Massad Boulos, Trump's senior adviser for Africa, told Reuters after Saturday's ceremony in Doha, adding Tshiskedi and Kagame "have both committed to resolving this". The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group have set a deadline to sign a peace agreement at a ceremony in Doha - a sign of progress as outstanding details are negotiated. Representatives of both sides signed a declaration of principles on Saturday, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters, agreeing to an August 18 deadline. The ceremony followed months of Qatari mediation since talks began in April. The United States, which has hosted separate talks between the governments of Congo and Rwanda, has exerted pressure to finalise a durable peace deal in Congo. President Donald Trump has made clear he hopes that will spur Western investment in a country rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals. The Rwandan and Congolese foreign ministers signed a peace deal in June and met with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Trump had invited Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to Washington at the time to sign a package of agreements, potentially including economic deals. The rebel group M23 has controlled eastern Congo's largest city, Goma, since late January - the latest in a series of uprisings - and made gains across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Rwanda has long denied allegations it has helped M23, which has seized more territory in Congo than it ever previously held. The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year, while escalating the risk of a full-scale regional war. Several of Congo's neighbours had troops deployed in eastern Congo when the advance began. Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi told reporters Saturday's declaration "lays the groundwork for a new phase of partnership among the various components of society in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - including armed movements that have chosen to prioritise the greater national interest". The declaration was brought about by talks that followed a surprise meeting between Congolese leader Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Kagame, brokered by Qatar in March, during which they called for an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire. Congo had previously rejected the idea of holding talks with M23, branding it a terrorist group. While denying it has supported M23, Rwanda has said its forces have acted in self-defence against Congo's army and ethnic Hutu militiamen linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Sources in both delegations have expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations in Doha and the lack of progress on confidence-building measures including the release of M23 members held by Congo and the re-opening of banks in rebel-held territory. The declaration of principles does not resolve those issues, instead committing the parties to "creating the necessary conditions" to eventually do so. It also does not address bigger questions concerning the possible Rwandan and M23 withdrawals from eastern Congo. It says Congo and M23 agree that state authority should be restored "on all national territories" as part of an eventual peace agreement but does not elaborate. The declaration "takes into account the red lines we have always defended, including the non-negotiable withdrawal" of M23, Congo government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said in a post on X on Saturday. Negotiations for a peace agreement are to start no later than August 8, according to the declaration, which would give the parties less than two weeks to finalise a deal if they stick to their new August 18 deadline. "We are confident and we are hopeful," Massad Boulos, Trump's senior adviser for Africa, told Reuters after Saturday's ceremony in Doha, adding Tshiskedi and Kagame "have both committed to resolving this".
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
Congo, rebel group step closer to permanent ceasefire
The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group have set a deadline to sign a peace agreement at a ceremony in Doha - a sign of progress as outstanding details are negotiated. Representatives of both sides signed a declaration of principles on Saturday, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters, agreeing to an August 18 deadline. The ceremony followed months of Qatari mediation since talks began in April. The United States, which has hosted separate talks between the governments of Congo and Rwanda, has exerted pressure to finalise a durable peace deal in Congo. President Donald Trump has made clear he hopes that will spur Western investment in a country rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals. The Rwandan and Congolese foreign ministers signed a peace deal in June and met with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Trump had invited Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to Washington at the time to sign a package of agreements, potentially including economic deals. The rebel group M23 has controlled eastern Congo's largest city, Goma, since late January - the latest in a series of uprisings - and made gains across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Rwanda has long denied allegations it has helped M23, which has seized more territory in Congo than it ever previously held. The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year, while escalating the risk of a full-scale regional war. Several of Congo's neighbours had troops deployed in eastern Congo when the advance began. Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi told reporters Saturday's declaration "lays the groundwork for a new phase of partnership among the various components of society in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - including armed movements that have chosen to prioritise the greater national interest". The declaration was brought about by talks that followed a surprise meeting between Congolese leader Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Kagame, brokered by Qatar in March, during which they called for an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire. Congo had previously rejected the idea of holding talks with M23, branding it a terrorist group. While denying it has supported M23, Rwanda has said its forces have acted in self-defence against Congo's army and ethnic Hutu militiamen linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Sources in both delegations have expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations in Doha and the lack of progress on confidence-building measures including the release of M23 members held by Congo and the re-opening of banks in rebel-held territory. The declaration of principles does not resolve those issues, instead committing the parties to "creating the necessary conditions" to eventually do so. It also does not address bigger questions concerning the possible Rwandan and M23 withdrawals from eastern Congo. It says Congo and M23 agree that state authority should be restored "on all national territories" as part of an eventual peace agreement but does not elaborate. The declaration "takes into account the red lines we have always defended, including the non-negotiable withdrawal" of M23, Congo government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said in a post on X on Saturday. Negotiations for a peace agreement are to start no later than August 8, according to the declaration, which would give the parties less than two weeks to finalise a deal if they stick to their new August 18 deadline. "We are confident and we are hopeful," Massad Boulos, Trump's senior adviser for Africa, told Reuters after Saturday's ceremony in Doha, adding Tshiskedi and Kagame "have both committed to resolving this".
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Syria forces deploy in Druze heartland after US brokers deal with Israel
Syrian interior ministry forces began deploying in Sweida on Saturday under a US-brokered deal intended to avert further Israeli military intervention in the Druze-majority province. Israel had bombed defence ministry forces in both Sweida and Damascus earlier this week to force their withdrawal after they were accused of summary executions and other abuses against Druze civilians during their brief deployment in the southern province. More than 700 people have been killed in Sweida since Sunday as sectarian clashes between the Druze and Sunni Bedouin drew in the Islamist-led government, Israel and armed tribes from other parts of Syria. The office of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced an "immediate ceasefire" in Sweida which it called on "all parties to fully respect". But AFP correspondents in and around the city reported gunfire and sporadic rocket fire and explosions as Druze fighters battled armed Bedouin who had seized some neighbourhoods on Friday with the support of volunteers from other parts of Syria. The Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor, said the armed volunteers had been deployed with the support of the Islamist-led government although an AFP journalist said security personnel were manning checkpoints on Saturday to prevent further reinforcements getting through. Druze fighters said the volunteers were mostly Islamists, who advanced to shouts of "Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest)". One armed tribesman told AFP he had come to fight against the Druze clergy and their "pig followers". "Today we came to their homes and we will slaughter them in their homes," he said. - US-brokered deal - The deal between the Islamist-government and Israel was announced by Washington early on Saturday Damascus time. US pointman on Syria, Tom Barrack, said interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "have agreed to a ceasefire" negotiated by the United States. Barrack, who is US ambassador to Ankara, said the deal had the backing of Turkey, a key supporter of Sharaa, as well as neighbouring Jordan. "We call upon Druze, Bedouins and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbours," he wrote on X. The US administration, which has sided with Turkey and Saudi Arabia in forging ties with the Islamist president despite his past links with Al-Qaeda, was critical of its Israeli ally's air strikes on Sria earlier this week and had sought a way out for his government. Sharaa followed up on the US announcement with a televised speech in which he renewed his pledge to protect Syria's ethnic and religious minorities. "The Syrian state is committed to protecting all minorities and communities in the country... We condemn all crimes committed" in Sweida, he said. The president paid tribute to the "important role played by the United States, which again showed its support for Syria in these difficult circumstances and its concern for the country's stability". He also thanked Turkey and Arab countries for their support. - 'No more room in morgue' - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said at least 718 people had been killed since Sunday. They included 146 Druze fighters and 245 Druze civilians, 165 of whom were summarily executed. The monitor said 287 government troops and 18 Bedouin fighters were also killed along with three Bedouin "who were summarily executed by Druze fighters". Fifteen more government troops were killed in Israeli air strikes. In the corridors of the city's main public hospital, a foul odour emanated from the swollen and disfigured bodies piled up in refrigerated storage units, an AFP correspondent reported. A small number of doctors and nurses at the hospital worked to treat the wounded arriving from the ongoing clashes, some in the hallways. Doctor Omar Obeid told AFP that the hospital had received "more than 400 bodies" since Monday morning. "There is no more room in the morgue. The bodies are in the street," he added. The International Committee for the Red Cross warned that health facilities were overwhelmed, with power cuts impeding the preservation of bodies in overflowing morgues. "The humanitarian situation in Sweida is critical. People are running out of everything," said Stephan Sakalian, the head of the ICRC's delegation in Syria. The International Organization for Migration said 79,339 civilians had fled the fighting.
