‘Cheap point’: Anthony Albanese hits back at David Littleproud over Australian beef comments

The Prime Minister has hit back at “confected outrage” after a joke about the Australian beef industry was labelled “out of touch”.

Anthony Albanese has hit back after Nationals Leader David Littleproud branded his comments at the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award as “completely out of touch”.

The Prime Minister recalled a meal he shared with Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto hours before getting on stage at the prestigious event.

“We had dinner, beautiful Australian beef – not the live export, we made sure it was dead,” he said towards the end of his scripted speech.

The joke wasn’t well received by the farming community, as it grapples with the reality of a total ban on live exports by May 2028.

Earlier this year, Labor announced live sheep exports would be phased out over a four-year period.

Mr Littleproud has since jumped on the comment, calling it “shameless”.

“Why the Prime Minister would choose the AgriFutures awards – a night celebrating our agriculture industry – to mock our industries is beyond me,” Mr Littleproud said.

Anthony Albanese made the comment at the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

David Littleproud was quick to brand the comment as ‘shameless’ and ‘out of touch’. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“It’s shameless the Prime Minister can mock the phase out of the live sheep export trade and in the next breath, declare how important agriculture is.

“Labor is still unable to explain the science behind closing the industry because Labor’s phase-out decision is based on ideology.”

Mr Albanese has now accused Mr Littleproud of trying to “make an issue out of nothing” while speaking at a press conference in Townsville on Friday morning.

“I support Aussie beef … and David Littleproud knows this full well,” he said.

“I serve proudly Aussie beef to the Indonesia President-elect. We talked about, with the Indonesian President-elect, the importance of the live cattle industry as well as the fantastic products we have. In the final product, eating the beef we have, that was magnificent.”

Mr Albanese added he was a “big supporter of the industry”, which was the point he was intending to make.

“A cheap point from David Littleproud trying to make an issue out of nothing,” he said.

“There was no issue until the next day, confected outrage from David Littleproud, which is what he is good at.

“I will continue to meet with the industry.”

Mr Albanese added that he was the first prime minister to attend the AgriFutures dinner.

West Australian Premier Roger Cook has called on Mr Albanese to apologise. Picture: NewsWire / Sharon Smit

However, Mr Littleproud has held firm in his calls for Mr Albanese to apologise, claiming the Prime Minister is “acting arrogantly”.

“He doesn’t get it, it’s not about me, it’s not about him, it’s about the men and women who have lost their jobs,” Mr Littleproud said.

“He’s acting arrogantly to the livelihoods of the men and women that he has destroyed.

“Real leadership by a prime minister would just come forward … apologise … move on.”

Mr Littleproud said the export ban could hand over to other countries without the same welfare standards as Australia, and that could lead to the “senseless death of sheep because Anthony Albanese has cut and run”.

“I think even when his own Western Australia Premier (Roger Cook) from the Labor Party is calling on him to apologise, surely he could read the room in WA that he’s caused hurt,” he said.

“All he has to do is. stand up and apologise, that’s what a real leader would do.”

Mr Cook on Thursday called for Mr Albanese to apologise and “clarify the Commonwealth’s position”.