Five Eyes summit: Leadership crisis embarrassing Australia on world stage

THE leadership crisis is having an impact on one of the world’s most critical security summits being held on the Gold Coast with the United States, UK, Canada and New Zealand.

THE political turmoil engulfing the Federal Government was an embarrassment for Australia which is set to host one of the most critical national security summits for our Five Eyes allies, the Opposition said yesterday.

Australia is hosting a two-day Five Eyes forum on the Gold Coast from next Monday with senior figures from the alliance which includes the United States, UK, Canada and New Zealand.

The gathering is seen a critical annual intelligence sharing forum on emerging threats including terrorism, regional instability and cyber attacks.

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Angus Taylor’s attempted resignation paired with Peter Dutton’s move to the backbench, has disrupted the organisation of the Five Eyes summit. Picture: AAP

But with the resignation of Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and the attempted stepping down of Law Enforcement Minister Angus Taylor, planning for the event has been disrupted.

Mr Taylor’s office could not confirm yesterday whether he would even be attending.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has moved quickly to push Treasurer Scott Morrison into the Home Affairs portfolio with a permanent ministerial appointment now unlikely before next week.

Shadow Attorney-General and minister for national security Mark Dreyfus told News Corp Australia it was embarrassing.

“It is highly concerning that the leadership chaos engulfing the government may affect Australia’s presence at a Five Eyes meeting which the government is supposed to be hosting in our country,” he said yesterday.

“The Five Eyes grouping is composed of our biggest and most important global allies, and is crucial for international co-operation on security and anti-terrorism issues. Even if Mr Turnbull appoints a new Home Affairs Minister before the meeting convenes, that person will have only been in the job a few days. It is embarrassing and no way to manage those relationships that are most critical to our national security.”

Five Eyes is Australia’s most important and oldest alliances.

Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said it was concerning the leadership chaos may affect Australia’s presence at the important security meeting. Picture: AAP

Mr Taylor told Parliament’s Question Time yesterday the leadership challenge had no broad effects and he said the priority of the government remained to keep all Australians safe.

“I strongly support that priority, I strongly support that priority,” he said over loud Opposition guffaws.

He said the government supported its law enforcement agencies to tackle any threats including gangs that had been “running rampart” predominantly in Victoria, drug trafficking and child exploitation.

Originally published as Five Eyes summit: Leadership crisis embarrassing Australia on world stage