PM takes a shot as China warships approach Western Australia

Anthony Albanese has kept to criticism of the Coalition as three Chinese warships continued their ­circumnavigation of Australia.

One of the three Chinese warships off the Australian coast. Picture: NewsWire

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Anthony Albanese has kept to criticism of the previous Coalition government’s national security record as three Chinese warships continued their ­apparent circumnavigation of Australia.

The People’s Liberation Army-Navy flotilla was seen 565km southeast of Perth on Monday morning, the Department of Defence said. This is several hundred kilometres off Albany, on the southern tip of Western Australia.

The three ships – a frigate, cruiser and a replenishment vessel – were being monitored by the Australian Defence Force, the department said.

The Prime Minister said his government’s response to the Chinese warships and live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea stood in “stark contrast” to the Morrison government’s handling of Chinese maritime behaviour.

“What happened prior to 2022 ... Scott Morrison was out there making comments about this, well there were ships that were noticed and monitored because they were in Sydney Harbour docked at Garden Island when he was the prime minister,” Mr Albanese said.

“We’ll continue to respond in an appropriate way and we’ll continue to monitor.”

The Opposition Leader said Mr Albanese was “completely out of his depth”.

“What he’s tried to do is to suggest that when the Coalition was last in government that warships turned up into Sydney Harbour unannounced,” Mr Dutton said. “That is a complete lie. The fact is the Chinese notified the then-government in April of that year, and there was planning in relation to the ships turning up into Sydney.”

He then cited confusion over who knew what and when in relation to the live-fire exercises, which were resolved when the Australian Defence Force confirmed in Senate estimates last week that it was informed by a Virgin pilot.

“This Prime Minister had no idea about the presence,” Mr Dutton said. “He didn’t know what to do. He had to rely on the Virgin pilot and other sources to inform them about the training exercise that was taking place. The Prime Minister’s demonstrating to Australians he’s completely out of his depth.”