Anthony Albanese slams ‘reprehensible’ rebel group but coy on he will add the Houthis to terror list
Australia is keeping mum on whether it’s considering following in the US’ footsteps amid concerns tensions in the Red Sea could push up petrol prices.
Australia has declined to say whether it will follow the US’s lead and consider listing the Houthis as a terror organisation amid continued attacks on the Red Sea.
The Biden administration is considering a return listing the militia as a terror group, a Trump-era policy that it scrapped in 2021 over concerns about the delivery of aid to Yemen.
But when asked if his government would do the same, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he’d rather go through a “proper process” than engage in “media speculation”.
“We give ongoing consideration to international security issues at all times,” he told reporters in Adelaide.
The Iranian-backed rebels have repeatedly attacked merchant ships in the crucial trade route linking Asia to Europe in response to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
Australia was one of eight nations to support the US and UK air strikes against the Houthis targets, including training bases and drone capabilities in Yemen.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said it was “hardly a surprise” the Biden administraion would soon annouce the relisting of the rebel-group.
The Albanese government should quickly follow suit, as the Opposition called them to do more than a week ago,” Senator Paterson said.
“A terrorist listing is one of the few remaining tangible actions we can take to show our opposition to the Houthis dangerous behaviour.”
Mr Albanese called the Houthis attacks “reprehensible” and reaffirmed his support for the action.
“The issue of the Red Sea and the issue of trade there is one that we take very seriously,” he said.
“The fact that you have attacks on international trade and the international economy are aimed at disrupting the economy and causing hardship globally as well.
“That is why Australia has supported the action which has been taken.”
His comments came just hours after the US launched a third assault on militia’s targets in Yemen as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.
About 12 per cent of world shipping traffic accesses the Suez Canal via the Red Sea.
On Wednesday, Global oil giant Shell joined competitor BP in announcing it would be suspending all shipments through the Red Sea due to the ongoing attacks.
Mr Albanese said he had not been briefed on whether it would drive up fuel prices in Australia.
Last week, Mr Albanese accused Iran of “meddling” and playing a “destructive role” in the conflict has he ramped up his rhetoric against Tehran’s support of the Houthis.
But Strategic Analysis Australia director Michael Shoebridge said the government must go further.
“This is the thing that broadens the conflict. It stops it just being about Hamas and Israel,” he told Sky News.
“This is effecting all of us. It’s probably going to affect petrol prices. But it is nowhere in the government’s agenda.”
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