PM Anthony Albanese may be denied big moment while in US

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could be denied the chance to do one major thing when he heads to the US, as he faces an uphill battle to deliver the AUKUS pact.

Anthony Albanese may be denied the chance to give a rare address to Congress on his trip to the US next week because Republican infighting means there is no House Speaker to invite him.

The Prime Minister also faces an uphill battle to progress new US laws needed to deliver the AUKUS pact, which have been put on hold while the Congress remains paralysed after an unprecedented leadership coup earlier this month.

And Australian diplomats expect the conflict in Israel may up-end the pomp and ceremony of the state visit as US President Joe Biden tries to avert all-out war in the Middle East.

Mr Albanese flies to Washington DC on Sunday, having accepted an invitation issued by Mr Biden when he cancelled his long-awaited trip to Australia in May.

Anthony Albanese is likely to be denied the chance to give a rare address to the US Congress.

Their ninth meeting is expected to focus on implementing AUKUS and identifying areas for co-operation on clean energy and critical minerals, after the leaders agreed to make climate the third pillar of the US-Australia alliance along with economic and security issues.

The Congress needs to pass a law to enable the sale of at least three nuclear submarines to Australia in the 2030s, although this has met mounting opposition from Republicans who fear the US industrial base is not building enough new boats to meet their domestic needs.

Reforms are also needed to US export controls to enable the sharing of defence technologies. Australia’s US ambassador Kevin Rudd last week blasted the “really crazy” rules and pushed for urgent action.

But the US House of Representatives has been shut down for more than two weeks after Republican rebels ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, stalling efforts to progress the changes and creating confusion about the leaders Mr Albanese will need to lobby.

US President Joe Biden is trying to avert all-out war in the Middle East. Picture: AFP

The Republicans have been unable to elect a new Speaker and on Friday shot down plans for a caretaker to reopen the House, as a party meeting turned into a shouting match and some members received death threats.

Republicans and Democrats want Mr Albanese to be afforded the honour of addressing a joint sitting of Congress, which requires an invitation from the Speaker. Australian officials are considering alternatives including a possible address to the Senate.

The highlight of the trip will be a state dinner at the White House next Thursday, the first for an Australian prime minister since Scott Morrison was invited by Donald Trump in 2019.

Australian business leaders and Resources Minister Madeleine King will also take part in a critical minerals roundtable and a showcase of Australian innovation in Washington DC.

United States Studies Centre chief executive Dr Michael Green said the trip would be “an action-forcing event” on AUKUS and climate co-operation, although he cautioned that Mr Albanese would have to show “Australia is on the right side of history” on the Israel conflict amid deepening divisions in the Labor Party.

Originally published as PM Anthony Albanese may be denied big moment while in US