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ABC News
3 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Labor and the Coalition have very different ideas about ties to the United States
The prime minister's well-telegraphed announcement this week that Australia will recognise a Palestinian state surprised precisely no one in the end. Nor did the opposition's rejection of this diplomatic step. But the arguments from both sides this week revealed more than just a foreign policy split over the Middle East. The growing divide over how deferential Australia should be towards the United States has become a chasm. The prime minister and opposition leader have expressed starkly different views on whether Australia should be prepared to "break" with its great ally on such a major foreign policy question. The partisan divide over how closely to align with the US has been steadily building since Donald Trump's return to the White House. The Albanese government remains committed to the US alliance. It wants AUKUS to survive the ongoing Pentagon review and is confident it will. But at the same time, the prime minister is demonstrating greater independence from the US than any of his recent predecessors would have dared. The unpopularity of Trump in Australia has allowed him the room to move. Australia and the United States are now at odds on climate change (Albanese is sticking with net zero and the Paris Agreement), trade (Trump's tariffs are "not the act of a friend") and defence spending (Australia is resisting US calls to reach a 3.5 per cent of GDP target). In his John Curtin oration last month, Albanese spoke of this greater independence within the US alliance as a virtue. He sees a more sovereign stance benefiting Australia's relations in the region and Labor's political standing at home. When pressed this week on the implications of splitting with the US on Palestinian recognition, the prime minister's response was revealing. "We make our sovereign decisions as a nation state in Australia's national interest, and we are aligning ourselves with like-minded countries," he said. "Sovereignty" and "national interest" carry a patriotic appeal. Aligning with "like-minded countries" refers to the UK, Canada, France who have all committed to Palestinian recognition. The US, notably, is not regarded as "like-minded" here. Australia has been increasingly siding with this "like-minded" group as western nations navigate the turbulence of Trump. In statements condemning Israel, in discussions about how to support Ukraine without the US, on climate and trade — this "like-minded" coalition is finding more common ground. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's view of how Australia should prioritise the US relationship could not be more different. The Coalition is already more closely aligned to Trump's world view on a range of fronts. It's considering joining Trump in dropping the net zero target. On trade, it seeks to blame the Albanese government, at least in part, for Trump's tariffs. On defence spending, the Coalition's pledge to reach a 3 per cent of GDP target was re-stated immediately after the election, while everything else remains under review. Barely a day goes by when the opposition isn't criticising the prime minister failing to secure a face-to-face meeting in the Oval Office. The Coalition views this as vital. It derided the length of Albanese's recent visit to China, on the grounds he should be in Washington instead. On Palestinian recognition, the opposition leader revealed just how heavily she thinks the US relationship should weigh in Australia's thinking. "There can be no breaking with our closest ally," Ley declared at a press conference after a shadow cabinet decision to oppose and reverse Palestinian recognition. "It's disrespectful of the relationship with the US," she told 2GB. Shadow Finance Minister James Paterson, incidentally, struck a somewhat different tone. While also strongly criticising the government's decision, he told Sky News Australia "of course, Australia's foreign policy is a matter for Australia, and we should decide it consistent with our own national interest, regardless of what our friends or allies might say". It was an acknowledgement the Coalition's position should still be framed as a sovereign decision, not one driven by deference to the United States. For his part, Trump is clearly not in favour of Palestinian recognition while Hamas remains in place and before a peace process. He agrees with those who argue recognition only rewards Hamas. He dismisses the significance of momentum amongst US allies who have taken this step. But Australia's decision to join the list hasn't caused much of a reaction from Trump at all. Indeed, the level of presidential concern appears to be subsiding as more allies take this step. A White House official told the Nine newspapers while the president's position is clear, he "is not married to any one solution as it pertains to building a more peaceful region". Still, Trump is nothing if not unpredictable. He may well say something much stronger if directly asked. This difference over Palestinian recognition could add to strains in the Australia-US relationship. The Albanese government has no doubt factored in that risk, along with all the other risks that go along with the decision to recognise a Palestinian state. The fear of upsetting Trump, however, isn't stopping US allies from moving towards Palestinian recognition. And here in Australia, this decision has exposed an even wider gap between the prime minister and opposition leader over whether "breaking with our closest ally" is OK. David Speers is national political lead and host of Insiders, which airs on ABC TV at 9am on Sunday or on iview.
ABC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Federal politics: Coalition would undo Palestinian recognition if elected — as it happened
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says the Coalition would revoke recognition of Palestinian statehood if re-elected. Take a look back at Tuesday's coverage below.
Malay Mail
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
In National Day message, Singapore Opposition leader Pritam Singh says nation-building ‘not the work of one party alone'
SINGAPORE, Aug 9 — Nation-building is the responsibility of every Singaporean and 'has never been the work of one party or one generation', said Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh in his National Day message yesterday. Marking Singapore's 60th anniversary, Singh called for unity in building a future 'where opportunity is more equitable, where no one is forgotten, and where every Singaporean has the space to grow, speak, and dream'. 'This civic duty is our responsibility alone,' said the Leader of the Opposition in a statement on Facebook. 'Nation-building has never been the work of one party or one generation; it is both an individual and collective effort.' Reflecting on Singapore's journey since independence, Singh, who is also the Member of Parliament in Aljunied GRC, described the national story as one of resilience — from pioneers and parents to today's citizens. He also highlighted the contributions of a wide range of Singaporeans, from seniors 'living out their years with grace and purpose' to gig workers, public sector employees and students. 'The Singapore story will become even more layered and complex as new citizens from various parts of the world join our Singapore family,' he said, adding that these contributions, 'seen or unseen', help keep the nation thriving. Singh urged Singaporeans to embrace diversity as a source of strength and to look to the future 'with hope, compassion, and the understanding that we are stronger not in spite of our differences, but because of them'. 'Majulah Singapura,' he concluded. 'May we always strive for better — together.'
SBS Australia
29-07-2025
- Business
- SBS Australia
Does Australia have a State of the Nation Address like the Philippines?
Australia does not have a single equivalent to the Philippine SONA, but similar functions are covered by other formal speeches. The Governor-General's Speech at the Opening of Parliament outlines the government's legislative agenda and is followed by speeches from the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader. The Federal Budget Speech, delivered by the Treasurer, presents the government's economic plans and national priorities. LISTEN TO SBS Filipino 07:28 Filipino 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
Al Jazeera
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
LIVE: Israel pounds Gaza as criticism grows of plans for camps in Rafah
Israeli forces continue bombarding Gaza a day after killing 95 Palestinians across the Strip, including seven children waiting for water and 17 people at a busy market in Gaza City. Criticisms of Israel's plan to set up an internment camp in Gaza are growing, with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid saying it would amount to a 'concentration camp' if Palestinians there are not allowed to leave.
