Anthony Albanese’s bid to claim Trump card and China ace

The PM says he is ­better placed than Peter Dutton to forge a productive relationship with Donald Trump, arguing his close ties with Indo-Pacific leaders would be valuable to the US president-elect in an era of competition between major powers.

Anthony Albanese at the Lake Nash cattle station in the Northern Territory on Wednesday on his new year campaign tour. Picture: PMO

Anthony Albanese says he is ­better placed than Peter Dutton to forge a productive relationship with Donald Trump, arguing his close ties with Indo-Pacific leaders would be valuable to the US president-elect in an era of competition between major powers.

The Prime Minister signalled he would not change his approach with China if Mr Trump launched a trade war, lauding the reopening of trade with Beijing as an economic win for Australia.

“We are a sovereign nation and we will act in terms of our economic interest,” Mr Albanese told The Australian. “We believe in free trade, not protectionism.”

Mr Albanese on Wednesday visited a massive cattle station in the Northern Territory seat of Lingiari, boasting that his government’s success in lifting beef restrictions would lead to exports to China surpassing $2bn this year, higher than when restrictions were implemented in 2020.

“They (beef exports to China) have not only hit back, they have hit back stronger with the lifting,” he said.

The 1.2 million hectare Lake Nash cattle station, owned by prominent graziers Peter and Jane Hughes, is home to up to 60,000 cattle and China is a key market for the beef produced there.

Mr Albanese said the restart of the lobster trade had been “incredible”, with more than 500,000kg of the shellfish being exported to China since Christmas Day.

The Coalition has argued that there is a risk to the US relationship if it is left to the Albanese government to deal with Mr Trump, as Mr Albanese and several cabinet ministers have previously voiced strong criticisms of the president-elect.

Mr Albanese shakes hands with Lake Nash station manager Eric Gibson. Picture: PMO

Mr Albanese said it was he who was better placed to forge close ties with the incoming administration, arguing the relationships he had forged with regional leaders would carry weight with Mr Trump.

Despite Mr Trump vowing to pull the US out of the Paris climate accord and accelerate fossil-fuel development, Mr Albanese said Mr Dutton’s lack of ambition on climate change would diminish Australia’s standing in the region and reduce Canberra’s geo­strategic relevance. He said Pacific leaders had not forgotten Mr Dutton’s joke in 2015 – caught on a boom mic – making light of rising sea levels in the ­region.

“We have improved our relationship with the Pacific,” the Prime Minister said. “It has been repaired. It was in disarray when we came into office.

“A precondition of credibility is action on climate change and Peter Dutton’s position on the ­Pacific and climate change is one where they all remember him ­joking about the impact of climate change on their countries.”

Mr Albanese said Australia was respected around the world as a middle power under his leadership. “Peter Dutton has not developed relationships with other people around our region and around the world,” he said.

“One of the things that puts Australia at good stead with our ­allies is the role that we play in our region.

“I have an excellent relationship with Japan and India, as well as the United States.

“The relationship that we have built with Indonesia, we have seen the products of our diplomacy and the work we have put in place.”

Mr Albanese said his positive first phone call with Mr Trump had left him optimistic on the ­relationship and the future of the AUKUS security pact.

The Prime Minister will ­attempt to replicate the actions of the former Coalition government during the first Trump administration and win carve outs from tariffs for Australian products ­exported to the US.

In the wake of comments by Mr Trump pushing for Greenland and Canada to become provinces of the US, Mr Albanese said he would not respond to ­comments from the incoming leader unless they impacted Australia.

When asked if Mr Trump’s comments showed he had ambitions to expand US territory, Mr Albanese said: “I will leave that to commentators about what the ­incoming president has to say”.

With Mr Trump likely to unwind US support for low-emissions technologies and withdraw from the Paris agreement, Mr Albanese said he did not think this would lead to a slowing of ­momentum on global climate change action. Mr Albanese said strong action on climate change would continue to be the overwhelming policy of nations in APEC and the G20.

“Countries aren’t about to change whether they believe climate change action is necessary,” the Prime Minister said. “They will do that because the science, overwhelmingly, is agreed and they will respond accordingly. But secondly as well, the economic opportunity that is there from acting on climate change and the shift to net zero is evident to all as well.”

The interview with The Australian came as Mr Albanese this week hit the ground campaigning for the first time in 2025, pledging infrastructure and housing ­announcements in Queensland and Western Australia.

On Thursday, Mr Albanese will unveil a $200m housing and infrastructure package for WA and allow international shipping to enter three more ports in the state’s north.

First-point-of-entry status will be given to the northern facilities of Wyndham, Ashburton and Dampier, with Mr Albanese to spruik the announcement in the town of Kununurra before campaigning in Perth later in the day. He will be joined by West Australian Premier Roger Cook, who is facing an election in March.

There will also be funding to build 1367 homes in WA and ­community infrastructure projects, such as sporting and childcare facilities.

Mr Albanese said the first-point-of-entry approvals would allow businesses in WA’s north to import and export goods close to their operations, rather than having to send products to ports further away.

“We always look for ways to support businesses and communities – which is why the changes to first port of entry will make a huge difference across the East Kimberley and Pilbara, shoring up local jobs and supply chains,” Mr Albanese said.