Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called Peter Dutton a “pussycat” when it came to speaking up about the treatment of Sky News journalist Cheng Lei to Chinese Premier Qiang Li.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Opposition leader Peter Dutton was a “pussycat” when in front of Premier Li.
Sky News journalist Cheng Lei has revealed the details of what happened when she was blocked from two separate events with the Chinese Premier.
Cheng Lei was blocked by Chinese officials at an event where Prime Minster Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang were signing agreements.
She was also blocked by staff from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet from attending an event involving the Chinese Premier and Opposition leader Peter Dutton.
“He stood up at the lunch afterwards with Premier Li and said absolutely nothing,” Mr Albanese told Sky News Australia.
“He was a lion outside and a pussycat when in front of Premier Li and other Chinese officials.
“The truth is that we responded very clearly – it was inappropriate activity.
“We made that clear, and I made it clear directly to Premier Li, which is more than Peter Dutton did – he left it up to Simon Birmingham to speak up and didn’t raise it himself.”
The veteran journalist was in Canberra on Monday attending media events in relation to the Premier’s visit, however her presence appeared to make Chinese staff uncomfortable, given she spent almost three years detained in Beijing.
During a signing ceremony, Cheng’s view was obstructed by Chinese embassy staff who made an effort to block her.
Speaking to Sky News Australia anchor Kieran Gilbert on Thursday, Mr Albanese likened the Opposition Leader to a “lion on the outside” but a “pussycat” when it came to speaking with Premier Li.
Mr Dutton spoke with Sky News host Peter Stefanovic earlier on Thursday, slamming the incident and revealing it had been taken up with Chinese leadership.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has blasted Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for claiming his party “raised the issue” with Chinese Premier Qiang Li after Sky News journalist Cheng Lei was blocked by Chinese officials at a press conference this week. Picture: Tracey Nearmy / Stringer via Getty Imagese
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Mr Albanese said Mr Dutton had “stood up” after the lunch with Premier Li, but said “absolutely nothing”.
“He was a lion outside, and a pussycat when in front of Premier Li and other Chinese officials. Said nothing,” Mr Albanese said.
“The truth is, we responded very clearly. It was inappropriate activity. We made that clear and I made that clear directly to Premier Li which is more than Peter Dutton did.
“He left it up to Simon Birmingham to speak up and didn’t raise it himself.”
Mr Albanese likened the Opposition Leader to a “lion on the outside” but a “pussycat” when it came to speaking with Premier Li. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Mr Albanese said the reason Cheng was present at the press conference was because of Labor’s efforts to release her from the Chinese prison.
“The truth is, as well, just to put some perspective here, the reason why Cheng Lei was at that press conference was because of the work that we did to ensure that she was brought home… strongly advocating as we do, always in Australia’s national interest,” he said.
“We’ve managed to stabilise the relationship without compromising any of our values. And Peter Dutton for all of his macho nonsense he goes on with, he’s incapable of standing up to his own party.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled the Opposition’s nuclear plan an “announcement without any substance”.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton announced the Coalition’s nuclear plan at a media event on Wednesday.
“What we’re dealing with here in 2024 is a Coalition so-called plan that hasn’t lasted a day,” Mr Albanese told Sky News Australia.
“They’ve said there are seven sites, but they haven’t said whether they’re going to be compulsorily acquired.
“They say there will be a community consultation process.
“They’ve made an announcement without any substance.”
The Prime Minister rebuked the Liberal leader for being unable to stand up to the people in his own party, “let alone stand up for Australia’s national interest”, as he had done with the release of Cheng and others.
“That’s something I have done, and that’s why Cheng Lei brought home, Sean Turnell brought home from Myanmar, people in Vietnam taken off death row – the actions that we’ve continued to put and we always defend Australia’s national interest,” Mr Albanese said.