Albo’s cold response to ex-PM’s rant

Anthony Albanese has returned from his most significant overseas trip, defending the AUKUS subs deal, but playing down the potential for war.

Anthony Albanese has remained tight lipped on whether his government considers war with China to be within Australia’s near future, despite a recent ex-PM arguing it could come within three years.

The Prime Minister refused to answer whether the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal was a sign the threat from China Malcolm Turnbull referred to was real.

“I don’t think it’s constructive to talk about war,” Mr Albanese said on The Project on Thursday.

The Project panel grilled the Primer Minister on whether Australia could go to war with China.

“I think what’s constructive is to make sure that we have the best defence capacity possible to make sure we put in place an optimum pathway for that defence strategy.”

Mr Turnbull last week said Australia was “not ready enough” for a potential war in our region, particularly if China tries to force its claim over Taiwan.

“It is possible there could be a war in our region within three years or even less,” Mr Turnbull told the same program.

“I’m not an alarmist, I’m a realist, but you know, we have to recognise these are dangerous times in which we live.”

Mr Albanese said his government was both “investing in defence” and “investing in relationships”.

“We want friendly relationships, we want to co-operate wherever we can, but we will disagree where we must. We do have different values,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Albanese said he ‘disagrees fundamentally’ with former Labor prime minister Paul Keating criticism of the AUKUS submarines deal, which he called

Labor’s ‘worst international decision’ since WWI conscription.

Anthony Albanese told radio 3AW Mr Keating’s comments were ‘unfortunate’ and ‘diminish him’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Mr Keating also dubbed senior ministers Penny Wong and Richard Marles, who handle Foreign Affairs and Defence respectively, as “seriously unwise ministers”.

Speaking to 3AW Mornings earlier on Thursday, Mr Albanese was sharp in his response, especially the personal criticisms of Senator Wong and Mr Marles.

“I don’t think that does anything other than diminish him, frankly,” he told 3AW.

“But that’s his prerogative to do so. I fundamentally disagree … and I disagree with his worldview.

“China has changed its posture and position in world affairs since the 1990s, when Paul Keating was active in politics … my position on China is that we should co-operate where we can, but disagree where we must … we disagree on human rights, we disagree on the South China Sea.

Paul Keating at Wednesday’s National Press Club address, in which he savaged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“We don't seek conflict with any nation and I have not engaged in any rhetoric aimed at increasing any tension; we want good relations.”

Mr Keating has long been a critic of the submarine deal since it was announced 18 months ago.

Mr Albanese said he did not take the comments “personally” and that Mr Keating still had his respect.

The Prime Minister said Mr Keating remained a “hero” of his and of the Labor Party.

“He was responsible for the reforms that Australia needed at that time,” he said on The Project

“This is the reform and the work that Australia needs right now and that’s my responsibility.”

Mr Albanese said that Mr Keating still remained one of his "heroes" despite the comments made on Wednesday.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has since described Mr Keating‘s attack on the deal as “unhinged”.

In a statement to the National Press Club before the address, Mr Keating said “this week, Anthony Albanese screwed into place the last shackle in the long chain the United States has laid out to contain China.

“No mealy mouthed talk of ‘stabilisation’ in our China relationship or resort to softer or polite language will disguise from the Chinese the extent and intent of our commitment to the United States’ strategic hegemony in East Asia, with all its deadly portents.”

The deal means Australia will buying and build US Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines over the coming decades.

Originally published as Albo’s cold response to ex-PM’s rant