Anthony Albanese asked whether he suffers sleepless nights worrying about China tension

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been grilled on the emotional toll China tensions are having on his personal routine.

Anthony Albanese has been asked if he suffers from “sleepless nights” and feels a responsibility to explain to voters how tensions with China “could end in war”.

In his first interview with ABC 7.30’s new host Sarah Ferguson, the Prime Minister was peppered with questions about the rise of China in the region and the implications for Australia.

“Your Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says that China’s rapid military build-up gives him sleepless nights. Now you’re Prime Minister, does it keep you up at night?’’ Ferguson asked.

“It certainly is one of concern and something that we’re very vigilant about,’’ Mr Albanese replied.

“We live in an era of strategic competition and a significant change in what is occurring in our region. We live in an era of real uncertainty.”

Host Sarah Ferguson quizzed Anthony Albanese about China. Picture: ABC/7.30

Mr Albanese was asked if he suffers from “sleepless nights”. Picture: ABC/7.30

But Mr Albanese said he hoped he never had to emulate his war time hero John Curtin, who couldn’t sleep at night as he wrestled with the threat of Japan in the region.

“I hope not. We want peace,’’ Mr Albanese said.

“We don’t want military conflict. That’s why we need to do everything we can to avoid it. “

Ferguson then interrupted, saying, “but the war – forgive me for interrupting. The war that everyone fears is with China”.

“Do you have a responsibility to the Australian people to lay out the risks that this could end in war?’’ she said.

“We have a responsibility to put out the facts without raising fear that mightn’t eventuate,’’ Mr Albanese said.

“We need to have a sober response to the circumstances that we face. That’s what my government is committed to doing.”

Ferguson then asked how Australia would respond to the “inevitable” US pressure that would come on to send troops, air or naval forces to defend Taiwan.

“We don’t deal with hypotheticals for a start,’’ Mr Albanese said.

“It is important that we do that. That’s not in the interest of peace and security in the region. That’s why there has been for a long period of time a position of, a bipartisan policy, but a position of support for the status quo.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial marking the first sitting of the 47th Australian parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

“I think that the Australian people are very conscious about the risks and it is important that we lay out the challenges that are before us in the national security space, but it is also important that we don’t raise fears in order to score domestic political points.”

Overnight, China has fired back at Anthony Albanese’s calls for trade sanctions to be lifted.

“Let me reiterate that China’s position on practical co-operation with other countries, including Australia, is consistent,” China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters.

“We hope Australia will seize the opportunities in our relations, take concrete actions, shape up the right perception of China, handle economic and trade relations with China in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual benefit.”

Mr Albanese was also asked about the economic figures out this week that were expected to be “bad”.

Mr Albanese in the chamber on day one of the 47th parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

“We face rising inflation. We face rising interest rates. There are real challenges there, but I’m comfortable that my government has a plan to deal with those challenges,’’ he said.

Mr Albanese then reflected on his emotional speech to parliament where he declared “there is no middle path when it comes to recognition” of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Constitution.

“I want it to happen this term and I want people to come together and seize the moment. If we lose the momentum that’s there, it could be lost for another generation. We need, as a nation, to unite. It is something that will be uplifting.’’ the Prime Minister said.

“It is not only in the interests of First Nations people, it is in the interests of all of us.”