Latest news with #Coalition
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Albo fires back on China trip claim
Anthony Albanese has hit back against the Coalition's criticism of his 'indulgent' trip to China, accusing them of 'constant negativity' and a failure to acknowledge the importance of Australia's 'most important trading partner'. Liberal frontbencher James Paterson earlier said the Prime Minister's six-day trip was 'starting to look a little bit indulgent,' which he described as 'a Gough Whitlam history tour on the Great Wall of China' and questioned whether 'a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas, and whether a hit of tennis is strictly necessary'. 'I hope it's not for the Prime Minister's personal enjoyment,' Senator Paterson told Sky News on Thursday. 'I mean, the appropriate time to do a nostalgic history tour of Labor Party mythology is after you retire, in your own time, at your own expense, not on the taxpayer dime.' Sussan Ley also said she was 'disappointed' Mr Albanese 'didn't get the assurances that he should' about circumnavigation of Chinese navy warships in Australia, or the live firing exercises which were done without advanced notice. Asked for his response to the comment during a press conference in the city of Chengdu, Mr Albanese rejected the claims. 'I think the opposition have got some issues they need to sort out within themselves, including over the relationship with China,' he told reporters. He said China was Australia's 'most important trading partner', with one in four Australian jobs dependent on the relationship, and reiterated the importance of a stable relationship. 'They've just had an election result because in part, they themselves have characterised it as their constant negativity' and said the trip had been 'very successful'. 'They need to stop looking for reasons to say they're against and decide what they're for.' Mr Albanese also described Chinese President Xi Jinping as 'warm and engaging' and said China was a 'confident,' 'creative' and 'dynamic' country. Mr Albanese said he wanted to see Australia and China establish a 'stronger relationship' with 'more agreement and less disagreement' over the next three years, while acknowledging the two countries had different political systems, cultures and values. 'We have different values. So we understand that,' he said. 'What I'd like to see is to be able to talk about those issues regularly, get as much agreement as possible, but understanding of where our nations are coming from, out of understanding, can come greater co-operation.' Speaking after the press conference, Coalition education spokesman Jonno Duniam said while it was important to show 'deference to your host,' he questioned the value of the trip. 'We have our prime minister there on a multi-day trip, a range of high-level meetings with very little in the way of outcomes that can be perceived back here home in Australia,' he told Sky News. 'At the same time, we've got drills occurring in Taipei for potential and perhaps eventual invasion by Chinese forces of Taiwan's territory there. 'There's a lot of water to go under the bridge, but I'm failing to see the benefits of what you've don, or what will come from this visit.'
Perth Now
8 minutes ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Albo fires back on China trip claim
Anthony Albanese has hit back against the Coalition's criticism of his 'indulgent' trip to China, accusing them of 'constant negativity' and a failure to acknowledge the importance of Australia's 'most important trading partner'. Liberal frontbencher James Paterson earlier said the Prime Minister's six-day trip was 'starting to look a little bit indulgent,' which he described as 'a Gough Whitlam history tour on the Great Wall of China' and questioned whether 'a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas, and whether a hit of tennis is strictly necessary'. 'I hope it's not for the Prime Minister's personal enjoyment,' Senator Paterson told Sky News on Thursday. 'I mean, the appropriate time to do a nostalgic history tour of Labor Party mythology is after you retire, in your own time, at your own expense, not on the taxpayer dime.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected the Opposition's criticism of his six-day China trip. NewsWire/ Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia Sussan Ley also said she was 'disappointed' Mr Albanese 'didn't get the assurances that he should' about circumnavigation of Chinese navy warships in Australia, or the live firing exercises which were done without advanced notice. Asked for his response to the comment during a press conference in the city of Chengdu, Mr Albanese rejected the claims. 'I think the opposition have got some issues they need to sort out within themselves, including over the relationship with China,' he told reporters. He said China was Australia's 'most important trading partner', with one in four Australian jobs dependent on the relationship, and reiterated the importance of a stable relationship. 'They've just had an election result because in part, they themselves have characterised it as their constant negativity' and said the trip had been 'very successful'. 'They need to stop looking for reasons to say they're against and decide what they're for.' The opposition said Anthony Albanese's trip was 'starting to look a little bit indulgent'. NewsWire/ Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Albanese also described Chinese President Xi Jinping as 'warm and engaging' and said China was a 'confident,' 'creative' and 'dynamic' country. Mr Albanese said he wanted to see Australia and China establish a 'stronger relationship' with 'more agreement and less disagreement' over the next three years, while acknowledging the two countries had different political systems, cultures and values. 'We have different values. So we understand that,' he said. 'What I'd like to see is to be able to talk about those issues regularly, get as much agreement as possible, but understanding of where our nations are coming from, out of understanding, can come greater co-operation.' Mr Albanese toured the Great Wall of China with Jodie Haydon on Wednesday. NewsWire/ Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: NewsWire Speaking after the press conference, Coalition education spokesman Jonno Duniam said while it was important to show 'deference to your host,' he questioned the value of the trip. 'We have our prime minister there on a multi-day trip, a range of high-level meetings with very little in the way of outcomes that can be perceived back here home in Australia,' he told Sky News. 'At the same time, we've got drills occurring in Taipei for potential and perhaps eventual invasion by Chinese forces of Taiwan's territory there. 'There's a lot of water to go under the bridge, but I'm failing to see the benefits of what you've don, or what will come from this visit.'
News.com.au
10 minutes ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Anthony Albanese accused Coalition of 'constant negativity' snaps back at 'indulgent' China trip attack
Anthony Albanese has hit back against the Coalition's criticism of his 'indulgent' trip to China, accusing them of 'constant negativity' and a failure to acknowledge the importance of Australia's 'most important trading partner'. Liberal frontbencher James Paterson earlier said the Prime Minister's six-day trip was 'starting to look a little bit indulgent,' which he described as 'a Gough Whitlam history tour on the Great Wall of China' and questioned whether 'a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas, and whether a hit of tennis is strictly necessary'. 'I hope it's not for the Prime Minister's personal enjoyment,' Senator Paterson told Sky News on Thursday. 'I mean, the appropriate time to do a nostalgic history tour of Labor Party mythology is after you retire, in your own time, at your own expense, not on the taxpayer dime.' Sussan Ley also said she was 'disappointed' Mr Albanese 'didn't get the assurances that he should' about circumnavigation of Chinese navy warships in Australia, or the live firing exercises which were done without advanced notice. Asked for his response to the comment during a press conference in the city of Chengdu, Mr Albanese rejected the claims. 'I think the opposition have got some issues they need to sort out within themselves, including over the relationship with China,' he told reporters. He said China was Australia's 'most important trading partner', with one in four Australian jobs dependent on the relationship, and reiterated the importance of a stable relationship. 'They've just had an election result because in part, they themselves have characterised it as their constant negativity' and said the trip had been 'very successful'. 'They need to stop looking for reasons to say they're against and decide what they're for.' Mr Albanese also described Chinese President Xi Jinping as 'warm and engaging' and said China was a 'confident,' 'creative' and 'dynamic' country. Mr Albanese said he wanted to see Australia and China establish a 'stronger relationship' with 'more agreement and less disagreement' over the next three years, while acknowledging the two countries had different political systems, cultures and values. 'We have different values. So we understand that,' he said. 'What I'd like to see is to be able to talk about those issues regularly, get as much agreement as possible, but understanding of where our nations are coming from, out of understanding, can come greater co-operation.' Speaking after the press conference, Coalition education spokesman Jonno Duniam said while it was important to show 'deference to your host,' he questioned the value of the trip. 'We have our prime minister there on a multi-day trip, a range of high-level meetings with very little in the way of outcomes that can be perceived back here home in Australia,' he told Sky News. 'At the same time, we've got drills occurring in Taipei for potential and perhaps eventual invasion by Chinese forces of Taiwan's territory there. 'There's a lot of water to go under the bridge, but I'm failing to see the benefits of what you've don, or what will come from this visit.'
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on the latest opinion poll: Coalition not inspiring the electorate
A jump in support for Independents is one of the most notable features of the latest Irish Times Ipsos B&A poll. The poll shows a minimal change in support for the Coalition parties since the last poll in April but Sinn Féin is down four points while Labour and the Social Democrats have slipped by a point and the Greens have remained static. It appears that voters who are disillusioned with the Government are moving towards Independents rather than Sinn Féin or the other more established left wing parties, while the number of undecided voters now stands at a significant 25 per cent. The huge number of undecided voters and the rise in support for Independents indicates that a substantial segment of the electorate does not have great faith in either Government or Opposition. There is some consolation for the Government in the fact that the Opposition parties are actually losing support, but the poll also indicates that the Coalition has inspired no great enthusiasm among the electorate since taking office just over six months ago. In the longer term that could spell trouble, particularly if the Government has to adopt serious budgetary measures in response to a trans-Atlantic trade war. READ MORE When it comes to satisfaction with the party leaders, Micheál Martin has widened his lead over Simon Harris and Mary Lou McDonald while satisfaction with the Government has remained the same since April. In party terms Fianna Fáil has seen no change in support since April, retaining 22 per cent of the vote. Sinn Féin has exactly the same vote share but this represents a drop of four points since the last poll while Fine Gael has gained one point from a very low base to 17 per cent. The Fine Gael vote in Dublin is holding up reasonably well and it is the biggest party in the capital, marginally ahead of Sinn Féin and well ahead of its Coalition partner. However, the party appears to have a serious problem in Munster where it continues to struggle. For Fianna Fáil the story is the reverse. The party's vote is holding up well everywhere, apart from Dublin where it continues to languish in third place. Sinn Féin will be disappointed not to have built on the significant increase it achieved in the last poll. Instead its support has slipped back close to what it achieved in last year's election. It indicates the challenge facing the party if it runs a candidate in the forthcoming presidential election. It all indicates a fractured political landscape and uncertainty among many voters about which party should get their support. A vital period now lies ahead, with the tariff situation on a knife-edge and the budget coming into view. The decisions made in the coming months could yet be defining for this Dáil term.
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Ireland's dissatisfied voters are moving, but not towards the left
There are three principal messages from today's Irish Times/Ipsos B & A opinion poll , timed to coincide with the last week of the Dáil term before the summer recess. First, support for the Government is holding firm, despite the absence of any real conviction among voters that they are getting to grips with the country's problems. Second, the Coalition 's chief rivals, Sinn Féin , have slipped back significantly, suggesting there is no sense among voters that they now wish Mary Lou McDonald had emerged as taoiseach after last year's general election. And third, voters dissatisfied with the Government are gravitating not towards the parties of the left, but to Independents or don't know how they would vote. READ MORE Though Fianna Fáil is doing substantially better than its Coalition partner – five points ahead and with the most popular leader – it is Fine Gael that will be more relieved at today's numbers. The party had seen a period of decline in public support through the general election campaign late last year and into the new year, culminating in the 16 per cent it registered in April's Irish Times poll – the lowest in the series since 1994. That led to many nervous 'how low can we go?' conversations. But now the party has stopped the rot and recovers marginally today by one point to 17 per cent. Not where it wants to be for sure, but imagine the party's mood – and the pressure on its leader – if it had seen a further drop. Tánaiste Simon Harris is in a difficult position, playing number two to Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Government after a disappointing election, after which his party finished well behind its partner/rivals. On the other hand, Harris is secure in the knowledge that – assuming the Coalition lasts and he remains Fine Gael leader, both reasonable assumptions – he will become taoiseach in November 2027 and retain the office until and during the next election campaign. It is what Harris does then, rather than now, that will matter most. After a post-election jump that might have been interpreted as buyers' remorse, Sinn Féin sees its support fall away. It's a disappointing development for the party after months of fierce opposition in the Dáil and on the airwaves, often focused on the cost of living. That model of aggressive left populism – to which the party seemed to have recommitted itself after the election – does not seem to be chiming with the public. It is especially disappointing for Sinn Féin when you take into account today's finding that most people don't believe the Coalition is getting to grips with the country's problems. The party will not fixate too much on one poll, but if its research confirms this trend over time, could this prompt more soul-searching about strategy, and perhaps its leadership? There has been considerable speculation of late about the possibility of McDonald running for the presidency, which would mean a change of leader. But if party chiefs – Sinn Féin always talks about a 'collective leadership' – decide that a change is warranted, there is an easy exit ramp for McDonald in the shape of a run for the Áras . It would be a huge move for the party, but today's poll will do nothing to dampen the speculation. Is Mary Lou McDonald about to enter the presidential race? Listen | 41:13 The big winners in this set of numbers are the Independents – including the Independent Ireland party – which see their aggregate support jump by five points, from 17 per cent in April to 22 per cent. To some extent, this may be voters unimpressed by Government or Opposition parties migrating as a sort of 'none of the above' option. We have seen that kind of move before. That analysis is not contradicted by the six-point surge in the numbers, saying they don't know how they will vote (though as ever, the don't-knows are stripped out of the party support figures – after all, you can't vote for a don't-know). And it chimes with what the Government might take away from this poll as it faces into what is likely to be a difficult autumn – and could be an extremely difficult autumn. Despite the pressing policy challenges, things are going okay for the two Coalition parties, but they would be wise not to get carried away.
