Dutton defends PM’s travel in ‘national interest’

Peter Dutton has defended the amount of travel Anthony Albanese has undertaken, contradicting Opposition Treasury spokesman Angus Taylor’s repeated criticism.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Picture: Twitter

Peter Dutton has defended the amount of travel Anthony Albanese has undertaken in his first two months as Prime Minister, contradicting the position of one of his most senior colleagues.

Opposition Treasury spokesman Angus Taylor repeatedly criticised Mr Albanese earlier in the month for being overseas while NSW was in the midst of a flooding crisis with 30,000 houses forced to evacuate. Mr Taylor accused Mr Albanese of being “more concerned about his reputation on the global stage than making sure people in NSW have a place to sleep”.

Nationals leader David Littleproud also blasted Mr Albanese, insisting Labor was “quick to throw a few grenades at Scott Morrison” for going on holiday to Hawaii during the black summer bushfires.

But the Opposition Leader on Sunday said he “strongly encouraged” Mr Albanese to undertake travel that was in Australia’s national interest and endorsed the Prime Minister’s visit to Ukraine.

Mr Albanese also visited Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in a bid to repair bilateral relations after the former government’s sudden cancellation of its multibillion-dollar submarine deal.

“Yes, of course I do, and I was very strongly encouraging the Prime Minister to go to the Ukraine. It was important, if he was in Europe, to be able to visit,” Mr Dutton told Sky News.

He said criticisms should be levelled at Mr Albanese for his decision to delay an announcement of flood relief until he had arrived back in Australia, accusing him of taking advantage of the “photo opportunity”.