Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has urged Coalition MPs to “be ready” for a possible early election, after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cancelled a planned trip to next week’s NATO summit.
The Prime Minister was scheduled to fly to Washington DC next Tuesday, where he planned to meet with the leaders from Japan, South Korea and New Zealand – nations form the Indo-Pacific that have NATO partner status.
However the government released a statement on Tuesday revealing that Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles would make the trip instead.
Mr Dutton raised the issue at the Coalition’s partyroom meeting on Tuesday, telling Liberal and National party MPs it could mean Labor “is considering an early election”.
Mr Dutton told the party room to “be ready”, with the Opposition Leader having been privately warning MPs Labor could be preparing to go to the polls in September.
The warning will encourage the Coalition to ramp up fundraising efforts and speed up policy development process – both things which need to occur for the opposition not to be caught flat footed if an election is called.
It will also serve as a reminder for the Coalition to remain disciplined and on message – the importance of which has been highlighted by the headaches Senator Fatima Payman has caused the government by crossing the floor in support of Palestine.
Next week’s NATO summit will mark 75 years since the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was created.
While not a signatory to the NATO treaty, Australia does have partner status, and Australian Prime Ministers have often attended the conference – with Mr Albanese last year saying the annual summit had essentially become “the meeting globally of the world’s democratic leaders”.
The government has not provided an official reason why Minister Marles is this year being sent in Mr Albanese’s place, but the decision was reportedly made so the Prime Minister could stay focussed on domestic policy issues.
There are also reports the Prime Minister may have cancelled after being unable to organise a meeting with US President Joe Biden ahead of the summit.
Mr Dutton condemned the Prime Minister’s decision to forgo the trip, claiming it was an example of his “weak leadership”.
“There’s war in Europe, there’s war in the Middle East, there’s a great prospect of war spreading further into Europe. There’s great uncertainty in our own region – as the PM as pointed out,” Mr Dutton said on Tuesday.
“Now is the time to engage with leaders, like-minded, and to send a very clear message to Putin, to send a very clear message to North Korea, to Iran, to Hezbollah and others, that we stand with those who share our values, and we always will.
“I think a lot of Australians are very unsettled at the moment. They’re worried about safety, they’re worried about security, and they’ve got a Prime Minister who wants to put local politicking ahead of his obligation to stand up for our country and send a united message.”
But Deputy Prime Minister Marles claimed his attendance at the meeting highlighted the government’s commitment to Australia’s strategic interests.
“As a non-NATO member, Australia shares a commitment to peace and security with NATO partners, including support for Ukraine against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion,” Mr Marles said in a statement.
“The Deputy Prime Minister’s attendance at the 75th NATO Summit underscores Australia’s commitment to advocate for our region’s strategic priorities and the upholding of the global rules-based order, while advancing Australia’s security, economic and trade agenda.”