The gloss comes off for Albanese’s government

Under the leaden sky of a brutal Canberra winter, the realities of a second year in office are sinking in for the prime minster as challenges pile up.

Phillip CooreyPolitical editor

Jun 16, 2023 – 4.03pm

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A rare event occurred in parliament on Thursday morning. Anthony Albanese held a press conference. It was the first occasion the prime minister stood in front of the Canberra press gallery since April 24 when he and Defence Minister Richard Marles released the defence strategic review.

Back then, Albanese took only questions on defence. It was similar at Thursday’s press conference, which was called to announce the government had vetoed Moscow’s lease on a block of land near parliament that was to be the site of the new Russian embassy.

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Phillip CooreyPolitical editorPhillip Coorey is the political editor based in Canberra. He is a two-time winner of the Paul Lyneham award for press gallery excellence.