Donald Trump’s Gaza ‘takeover’ bombshell gives Anthony Albanese another reason to stay quiet | Samantha Maiden
For the second time this week, the Prime Minister has tried to talk his way around an elephant in the room, writes Samantha Maiden.
Opinion
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was at pains to sidestep questions this week over US President Donald Trump’s shock declaration that the US would “take control” of the Gaza Strip.
The US stunned Middle East experts by announcing a plan to take control of Gaza with Palestinians “relocated to other countries”.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip,” Mr Trump announced during the press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
“I do see a long-term ownership position, and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East, and maybe the entire Middle East.”
But speaking in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia’s longstanding position had not changed.
“I’ve said before that I don’t intend to have a running commentary on the President of the United States’ statements,’’ Mr Albanese began.
“What I would say is that Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year, and it was 10 years ago... under the Howard government.
“The Australian government supports, on a bipartisan basis, a two-state solution in the Middle East.”
In other words, the US may have changed its policy but Australia has not.
Mr Albanese was then pushed by journalists to say whether the US President had “blown that apart hasn’t he, with this statement?”
“Do you think what he’s proposing is in accordance with international law?” he was asked.
“Our position remains the same,’’ Mr Albanese replied.
“My job is to give Australia’s position. And Australia’s position is to support a bipartisan position – one where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security.”
But closer to home, the one question that the Prime Minister keeps getting asked is why he won’t just fess up that the Prime Minister, Attorney-General and national security committee were all “out of the loop” and left in the dark over the alleged anti-Semitic caravan bomb plot by the Australian Federal Police for 10 days.
It now appears clear enough that Mr Albanese wasn’t brought into the loop by the AFP, despite NSW Police briefing NSW Premier Chris Minns.
While it is somewhat embarrassing, wouldn’t it be easier to just tell the truth? To simply say, it was not regarded by the AFP as necessary to inform us at that stage and we have asked them to review those processes.
The Prime Minister has been peppered with questions all week and is refusing to say, despite the fact the AFP will tell anyone who wants to know, that they never told him. It’s only serving to prolong the agony.
Senior government sources have confirmed that the AFP and NSW Premier Chris Minns was swiftly notified of the shock find by NSW Police that could have resulted in a “mass casualty event” around January 19-20, but did not inform the Prime Minister or his cabinet, citing “operational reasons” until last week.
Mr Minns also didn’t alert the national cabinet about the threat, despite learning days earlier there was a caravan packed with explosives.
That much isn’t entirely surprising. But the decision of the AFP not to tell the PM is more perplexing.
The Prime Minister’s office is referring all questions to the AFP and the AFP is happy to tell anyone who will listen they didn’t tell him, or the attorney-general or anyone in the federal government, and they don’t care and don’t think that’s a problem.
Coalition Leader Peter Dutton asked the question again and again this week in parliament: When was the PM first asked about the planned terror attack in Sydney?
“I was asked a question about the police and agencies and I was speaking about the police and agencies. I am for them. We on this side are for them. Simple as that. We have confidence in them to do their work and we will back them in doing their job. That is what we will do.”
That’s all well and good, but the simple fact is the AFP has done the PM a disservice in not telling him what was going on.
“The Prime Minister needs to start thinking very carefully. He should not use a claim of confidentiality on national security as an issue when it suits him,’’ Liberal Senate leader Michaelia Cash observed.
“He refuses to tell the Australian people the simple details of when he or his government knew about this sickening incident.”
She’s right, to the extent that the Prime Minister’s claim he would jeopardise the police investigation by saying when he was told is rubbish.
Mr Minns was happy to say when he was notified. The PM isn’t doing himself or his colleagues any political favours by not following suit.
More Coverage
Originally published as Donald Trump’s Gaza ‘takeover’ bombshell gives Anthony Albanese another reason to stay quiet | Samantha Maiden
Gold Coast is getting what it voted for on light rail
OPINION: Some people seem shocked that light rail stage four is in peril, with electric buses now on the agenda. They shouldn’t be, writes Keith Woods.
Downer: Two weeks of dramatic Donald. What have we learned?
None of us like all of his polices but you can’t deny the new US president has made an energetic start to his second term, writes Alexander Downer.