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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Anthony Albanese's office photo: What's in, what's out and what it says about Australia's leader in 2025... including the item we can all relate to
As Parliament resumes after Anthony Albanese 's second election win, this time resounding, the Prime Minister's office again offers a curated window into the man behind the nation's top job. Call it political interior design, or just the subtle messaging of power through personal artefacts. Either way, the objects on the PM's desk and surrounding shelves speak volumes about what he values, what he wants Australians to see, and just as tellingly, what he no longer feels the need to display. The latest official photo makes that point before you even scan the bookshelf. In 2023, Albo was snapped in a Radio Birdman T-shirt (4), a visual nod to his Triple J sensibilities and his everyman persona (in inner cities at least). This time around, it's a sharp navy jacket and open-collared shirt - no band tees, no slogans. He finally looks the part: re-elected, emboldened, and leaning into the gravitas that comes with high office. The personal flourishes remain, but the overall tone has matured. The Prime Minister is no longer dressing down for the cameras. So too, the artefacts have undergone a kind of rebrand. Several once-prominent pieces are conspicuously absent this time around. The signed Midnight Oil Makarrata Project album (6) is gone, so too the Qantas model plane (3) that for years sat proudly in Albanese's office - a holdover from his time as transport minister. But their disappearance is more than aesthetic tidying. These weren't just casual desk decorations. They were part of a first-term identity: the music-obsessed, frequent-flying, culturally savvy Albo. But political offices don't remove memorabilia without cause. The Oils' frontman Peter Garrett hasn't exactly been generous in his praise of Labor's policy agenda, especially post-Voice. The model jet? Grounded, just like the Prime Minister's association with Alan Joyce-era Qantas - a proximity that drew scrutiny in the first term, especially after revelations about his son Nathan's controversial Chairman's Lounge membership. Even his GQ Man of the Year award (7) - which, for full disclosure, I profiled him for in the magazine itself - has been retired from view. Previously positioned proudly behind his chair, it now appears to have been quietly boxed. Maybe it didn't fit the updated message. Or maybe it just felt a little off-key for a second-term PM aiming for statesman, not celebrity. Gone too are some of the older, familiar touchstones: the Rabbitohs-themed items, while still present, have been consolidated. The signed NRL and AFL balls (5 and 9) remain on a higher shelf, but no longer dominate the foreground. They're still there, but dialled down - a nod to his sporting passions rather than a centrepiece. The new additions on Albanese's desk say a lot about the PM's priorities - or at least what he wants the public to believe they are. There are more images of his son Nathan, including the long-present framed portrait (1), as well as a newer, staged photo of the PM, his fiancée Jodie Haydon, and Nathan walking Toto the cavoodle together (13). It's a curated slice of suburban domesticity - all that's missing is a flat white and a Sunday market in the background. A singular photo of Jodie (11) now features more prominently than before, part of a broader theme of personal connection. But the most conspicuous addition in that category is the framed cartoon showing Albanese proposing to Jodie (6) - playful, whimsical, and unusually revealing for a man trying to project control and seriousness. It's placed directly beside another framed drawing: a stylised portrait of Toto the dog (7), who has now ascended to gallery status on the office wall. It's another new entry - possibly clipped from a weekend paper, or sent to him directly by the cartoonist - offering a glimpse of the PM's self-awareness. The humour is still there, just framed more formally. In a subtle nod to expanding his appeal beyond the Inner West, a cricket ball now rests on the shelf (4). It's a small but deliberate choice. Rugby league remains his passion, Souths in particular, but cricket speaks to a more traditional national pastime - and perhaps a broader audience. Toto the cavoodle (7) has ascended to gallery status on the office wall Then there's Rosie Batty's book Hope (12), prominently placed. It's unclear whether Albanese has actually read it, but its appearance speaks to the second-term agenda. Domestic violence policy is a key priority for this government, and the symbolism of having Batty's work on display underscores that intent. There are policies backing this up - the signal, in this case, comes with substance. And finally, the most easily missed but perhaps most relatable inclusion: the frayed phone charger cord (14), trailing off the desk's edge like an unresolved policy thread. It's minor, yes, but symbolic. A little worn. A little tangled. A touch of chaos under the veneer of order - just like governing. Consistent Threads Some things haven't changed. The Aboriginal artwork (2) behind one of the family photos remains, a quiet continuity in the post-referendum landscape. It's not flashy, but it's constant - a subtle marker of ongoing commitment even amid national setbacks. The trio of flags - Australian, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander (10) - also endures. While largely ceremonial, their continued presence sends a message about national identity. Had Peter Dutton won the election, it's hard to imagine two of the three surviving the transition. A PM Rebranding — Gently So, what does it all add up to? This is still the office of a Labor leader deeply shaped by personal story - a son of a single mum, a Souths tragic, a man who found love again later in life. But the second-term version is more grounded, more disciplined. The rock'n'roll flair has been packed away. The slogans have been shelved. The sentimental has overtaken the stylised. The family photos, the artwork, the dog drawing - they all build a narrative of empathy and authenticity. But the shift in wardrobe and removal of old cultural flourishes suggest a new layer: authority. Albanese is no longer just trying to be relatable. He's trying to be taken seriously. Whether the public or Parliament notices the change is another matter entirely. But in politics, as in life, the smallest details often say the most. And for the record, Albo, I still have that GQ article buried in a box in the garage. If you want to reframe it… I'll see if I can find it.
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
PM on winning strategy for hearts and minds in Beijing
Few do pomp and ceremony as well as the Chinese. As he met with leaders in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was given the red carpet treatment. Rows of immaculately decorated soldiers were wheeled around the hall in perfect synchronicity and a People's Liberation Army brass band played Chinese covers of Aussie pub rock classics by the likes of Paul Kelly and Midnight Oil. The lavish display may be par for the course for world leaders ushered into the grand neoclassical sanctum of Chinese power. But the warm reception to the prime minister's six-day trip of China and gushing praise heaped upon him was notable in the highly choreographed world of Chinese political theatre, where symbolism and ritual are key. Protocols matter, says Associate Professor Graeme Smith, an expert on Chinese politics at the Australian National University. "All foreign policy, but particularly for China, is for a domestic audience," he tells AAP. "This is not about us. It's about citizens, about Chinese Communist Party members. That's what these are for and we're just a nice prop for them." The constant refrain of co-operating where they can, disagreeing where they must and engaging in the national interest was calibrated to chime with Beijing's own goals. Focusing on moving the relationship forward gave them an out for their unilateral decision to torch relations in 2020 while allowing them to save face. The unusually long duration of the prime minister's trip and the fact it occurred so soon after being re-elected, was interpreted by both sides as a sign of the importance of the two nations' relationship. Likewise, Mr Albanese remarked that the length of the meetings he had with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and National People's Congress Chairman Zhao Leji was a sign of "respect" - a word he would keep coming back to through the course of his trip. "I had meetings for around about eight hours yesterday," he said at the Great Wall on Wednesday. "It was a very long meeting but it also showed respect to both sides, the fact that President Xi didn't just have a meeting but we had a lunch where President Xi as well invited Jodie to attend. "That lunch was a sign of respect to Australia, to our country." The fact the military band at the leaders' meetings learned to play songs specifically chosen to suit the prime minister's taste showed the effort they were willing to put in. "Those gestures matter, respect matters between countries," he said. "The opportunity to sit down and have a meal and talk about personal issues, talk about things that aren't necessarily heavily political, is really important part of diplomacy. "One of the things that my government does is engage in diplomacy. We don't shout with megaphones." The contrast to the way the US conducts diplomacy under Donald Trump couldn't be more stark. The US president was a constant elephant in the room during the trip. From his first day in Shanghai, Mr Albanese's visit was almost derailed after it emerged Pentagon strategist Elbridge Colby had been pressuring Australian and Japanese diplomats to provide assurances about joining the US in a hypothetical conflict with China over Taiwan. But Mr Albanese refrained from engaging in the transactional style of diplomacy his American counterpart trades in. When the opposition criticised him for failing to bring back tangible results and "indulgent" visits to the Great Wall and a panda research centre, the prime minister said they were missing the point. "The Great Wall of China symbolises the extraordinary history and culture here in China and showing a bit of respect to people never cost anything," he said "You know what it does? It gives you a reward." Patient, consistent diplomacy is the government's modus operandi. Tracing the footsteps of Labor leader Gough Whitlam along the Great Wall was a powerful bit of symbolism, Prof Smith says. Mr Whitlam visited the wonder in a landmark trip as opposition leader acknowledging communist rule of the People's Republic of China in 1971, becoming one of the first Western politicians to do so. It sent a clear message about the enduring strength of the relationship, Prof Smith says. "This is probably one of the strongest cards we've got to play in terms of the relationship, that we were a first mover in recognising China. That gets us a lot of points." Premier Li praised Mr Albanese for his personal role in mending Sino-Australian relations in their meeting on Tuesday. Chinese state media, which poured endless scorn on Australia when relations were at their lowest, was glowing in its coverage of Mr Albanese, casting the previous coalition government as the source of the conflict. "In recent years, as China-Australia relations have continued to improve, the Australian government's understanding of its relationship with China has also deepened," according to an opinion piece in Chinese state-owned tabloid the Global Times. "(Mr Albanese) has demonstrated a pragmatic and rational approach to China policy. "Today's China-Australia relationship is like a plane flying in the 'stratosphere' after passing through the storm zone and the most turbulent and bumpy period has passed." Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Justin Bassi says the prime minister's visit was positive for economic relationships and trade. But the approach is not without its risks. "I think here the risks are threefold," he told ABC News. "I think there is a risk that we are used for propaganda purposes. There is a risk that … trade becomes an over-dependency and the third risk is that we provide a perception, both to China and to our own public, that short-term economics are outweighing long-term security." Few do pomp and ceremony as well as the Chinese. As he met with leaders in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was given the red carpet treatment. Rows of immaculately decorated soldiers were wheeled around the hall in perfect synchronicity and a People's Liberation Army brass band played Chinese covers of Aussie pub rock classics by the likes of Paul Kelly and Midnight Oil. The lavish display may be par for the course for world leaders ushered into the grand neoclassical sanctum of Chinese power. But the warm reception to the prime minister's six-day trip of China and gushing praise heaped upon him was notable in the highly choreographed world of Chinese political theatre, where symbolism and ritual are key. Protocols matter, says Associate Professor Graeme Smith, an expert on Chinese politics at the Australian National University. "All foreign policy, but particularly for China, is for a domestic audience," he tells AAP. "This is not about us. It's about citizens, about Chinese Communist Party members. That's what these are for and we're just a nice prop for them." The constant refrain of co-operating where they can, disagreeing where they must and engaging in the national interest was calibrated to chime with Beijing's own goals. Focusing on moving the relationship forward gave them an out for their unilateral decision to torch relations in 2020 while allowing them to save face. The unusually long duration of the prime minister's trip and the fact it occurred so soon after being re-elected, was interpreted by both sides as a sign of the importance of the two nations' relationship. Likewise, Mr Albanese remarked that the length of the meetings he had with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and National People's Congress Chairman Zhao Leji was a sign of "respect" - a word he would keep coming back to through the course of his trip. "I had meetings for around about eight hours yesterday," he said at the Great Wall on Wednesday. "It was a very long meeting but it also showed respect to both sides, the fact that President Xi didn't just have a meeting but we had a lunch where President Xi as well invited Jodie to attend. "That lunch was a sign of respect to Australia, to our country." The fact the military band at the leaders' meetings learned to play songs specifically chosen to suit the prime minister's taste showed the effort they were willing to put in. "Those gestures matter, respect matters between countries," he said. "The opportunity to sit down and have a meal and talk about personal issues, talk about things that aren't necessarily heavily political, is really important part of diplomacy. "One of the things that my government does is engage in diplomacy. We don't shout with megaphones." The contrast to the way the US conducts diplomacy under Donald Trump couldn't be more stark. The US president was a constant elephant in the room during the trip. From his first day in Shanghai, Mr Albanese's visit was almost derailed after it emerged Pentagon strategist Elbridge Colby had been pressuring Australian and Japanese diplomats to provide assurances about joining the US in a hypothetical conflict with China over Taiwan. But Mr Albanese refrained from engaging in the transactional style of diplomacy his American counterpart trades in. When the opposition criticised him for failing to bring back tangible results and "indulgent" visits to the Great Wall and a panda research centre, the prime minister said they were missing the point. "The Great Wall of China symbolises the extraordinary history and culture here in China and showing a bit of respect to people never cost anything," he said "You know what it does? It gives you a reward." Patient, consistent diplomacy is the government's modus operandi. Tracing the footsteps of Labor leader Gough Whitlam along the Great Wall was a powerful bit of symbolism, Prof Smith says. Mr Whitlam visited the wonder in a landmark trip as opposition leader acknowledging communist rule of the People's Republic of China in 1971, becoming one of the first Western politicians to do so. It sent a clear message about the enduring strength of the relationship, Prof Smith says. "This is probably one of the strongest cards we've got to play in terms of the relationship, that we were a first mover in recognising China. That gets us a lot of points." Premier Li praised Mr Albanese for his personal role in mending Sino-Australian relations in their meeting on Tuesday. Chinese state media, which poured endless scorn on Australia when relations were at their lowest, was glowing in its coverage of Mr Albanese, casting the previous coalition government as the source of the conflict. "In recent years, as China-Australia relations have continued to improve, the Australian government's understanding of its relationship with China has also deepened," according to an opinion piece in Chinese state-owned tabloid the Global Times. "(Mr Albanese) has demonstrated a pragmatic and rational approach to China policy. "Today's China-Australia relationship is like a plane flying in the 'stratosphere' after passing through the storm zone and the most turbulent and bumpy period has passed." Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Justin Bassi says the prime minister's visit was positive for economic relationships and trade. But the approach is not without its risks. "I think here the risks are threefold," he told ABC News. "I think there is a risk that we are used for propaganda purposes. There is a risk that … trade becomes an over-dependency and the third risk is that we provide a perception, both to China and to our own public, that short-term economics are outweighing long-term security." Few do pomp and ceremony as well as the Chinese. As he met with leaders in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was given the red carpet treatment. Rows of immaculately decorated soldiers were wheeled around the hall in perfect synchronicity and a People's Liberation Army brass band played Chinese covers of Aussie pub rock classics by the likes of Paul Kelly and Midnight Oil. The lavish display may be par for the course for world leaders ushered into the grand neoclassical sanctum of Chinese power. But the warm reception to the prime minister's six-day trip of China and gushing praise heaped upon him was notable in the highly choreographed world of Chinese political theatre, where symbolism and ritual are key. Protocols matter, says Associate Professor Graeme Smith, an expert on Chinese politics at the Australian National University. "All foreign policy, but particularly for China, is for a domestic audience," he tells AAP. "This is not about us. It's about citizens, about Chinese Communist Party members. That's what these are for and we're just a nice prop for them." The constant refrain of co-operating where they can, disagreeing where they must and engaging in the national interest was calibrated to chime with Beijing's own goals. Focusing on moving the relationship forward gave them an out for their unilateral decision to torch relations in 2020 while allowing them to save face. The unusually long duration of the prime minister's trip and the fact it occurred so soon after being re-elected, was interpreted by both sides as a sign of the importance of the two nations' relationship. Likewise, Mr Albanese remarked that the length of the meetings he had with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and National People's Congress Chairman Zhao Leji was a sign of "respect" - a word he would keep coming back to through the course of his trip. "I had meetings for around about eight hours yesterday," he said at the Great Wall on Wednesday. "It was a very long meeting but it also showed respect to both sides, the fact that President Xi didn't just have a meeting but we had a lunch where President Xi as well invited Jodie to attend. "That lunch was a sign of respect to Australia, to our country." The fact the military band at the leaders' meetings learned to play songs specifically chosen to suit the prime minister's taste showed the effort they were willing to put in. "Those gestures matter, respect matters between countries," he said. "The opportunity to sit down and have a meal and talk about personal issues, talk about things that aren't necessarily heavily political, is really important part of diplomacy. "One of the things that my government does is engage in diplomacy. We don't shout with megaphones." The contrast to the way the US conducts diplomacy under Donald Trump couldn't be more stark. The US president was a constant elephant in the room during the trip. From his first day in Shanghai, Mr Albanese's visit was almost derailed after it emerged Pentagon strategist Elbridge Colby had been pressuring Australian and Japanese diplomats to provide assurances about joining the US in a hypothetical conflict with China over Taiwan. But Mr Albanese refrained from engaging in the transactional style of diplomacy his American counterpart trades in. When the opposition criticised him for failing to bring back tangible results and "indulgent" visits to the Great Wall and a panda research centre, the prime minister said they were missing the point. "The Great Wall of China symbolises the extraordinary history and culture here in China and showing a bit of respect to people never cost anything," he said "You know what it does? It gives you a reward." Patient, consistent diplomacy is the government's modus operandi. Tracing the footsteps of Labor leader Gough Whitlam along the Great Wall was a powerful bit of symbolism, Prof Smith says. Mr Whitlam visited the wonder in a landmark trip as opposition leader acknowledging communist rule of the People's Republic of China in 1971, becoming one of the first Western politicians to do so. It sent a clear message about the enduring strength of the relationship, Prof Smith says. "This is probably one of the strongest cards we've got to play in terms of the relationship, that we were a first mover in recognising China. That gets us a lot of points." Premier Li praised Mr Albanese for his personal role in mending Sino-Australian relations in their meeting on Tuesday. Chinese state media, which poured endless scorn on Australia when relations were at their lowest, was glowing in its coverage of Mr Albanese, casting the previous coalition government as the source of the conflict. "In recent years, as China-Australia relations have continued to improve, the Australian government's understanding of its relationship with China has also deepened," according to an opinion piece in Chinese state-owned tabloid the Global Times. "(Mr Albanese) has demonstrated a pragmatic and rational approach to China policy. "Today's China-Australia relationship is like a plane flying in the 'stratosphere' after passing through the storm zone and the most turbulent and bumpy period has passed." Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Justin Bassi says the prime minister's visit was positive for economic relationships and trade. But the approach is not without its risks. "I think here the risks are threefold," he told ABC News. "I think there is a risk that we are used for propaganda purposes. There is a risk that … trade becomes an over-dependency and the third risk is that we provide a perception, both to China and to our own public, that short-term economics are outweighing long-term security." Few do pomp and ceremony as well as the Chinese. As he met with leaders in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was given the red carpet treatment. Rows of immaculately decorated soldiers were wheeled around the hall in perfect synchronicity and a People's Liberation Army brass band played Chinese covers of Aussie pub rock classics by the likes of Paul Kelly and Midnight Oil. The lavish display may be par for the course for world leaders ushered into the grand neoclassical sanctum of Chinese power. But the warm reception to the prime minister's six-day trip of China and gushing praise heaped upon him was notable in the highly choreographed world of Chinese political theatre, where symbolism and ritual are key. Protocols matter, says Associate Professor Graeme Smith, an expert on Chinese politics at the Australian National University. "All foreign policy, but particularly for China, is for a domestic audience," he tells AAP. "This is not about us. It's about citizens, about Chinese Communist Party members. That's what these are for and we're just a nice prop for them." The constant refrain of co-operating where they can, disagreeing where they must and engaging in the national interest was calibrated to chime with Beijing's own goals. Focusing on moving the relationship forward gave them an out for their unilateral decision to torch relations in 2020 while allowing them to save face. The unusually long duration of the prime minister's trip and the fact it occurred so soon after being re-elected, was interpreted by both sides as a sign of the importance of the two nations' relationship. Likewise, Mr Albanese remarked that the length of the meetings he had with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and National People's Congress Chairman Zhao Leji was a sign of "respect" - a word he would keep coming back to through the course of his trip. "I had meetings for around about eight hours yesterday," he said at the Great Wall on Wednesday. "It was a very long meeting but it also showed respect to both sides, the fact that President Xi didn't just have a meeting but we had a lunch where President Xi as well invited Jodie to attend. "That lunch was a sign of respect to Australia, to our country." The fact the military band at the leaders' meetings learned to play songs specifically chosen to suit the prime minister's taste showed the effort they were willing to put in. "Those gestures matter, respect matters between countries," he said. "The opportunity to sit down and have a meal and talk about personal issues, talk about things that aren't necessarily heavily political, is really important part of diplomacy. "One of the things that my government does is engage in diplomacy. We don't shout with megaphones." The contrast to the way the US conducts diplomacy under Donald Trump couldn't be more stark. The US president was a constant elephant in the room during the trip. From his first day in Shanghai, Mr Albanese's visit was almost derailed after it emerged Pentagon strategist Elbridge Colby had been pressuring Australian and Japanese diplomats to provide assurances about joining the US in a hypothetical conflict with China over Taiwan. But Mr Albanese refrained from engaging in the transactional style of diplomacy his American counterpart trades in. When the opposition criticised him for failing to bring back tangible results and "indulgent" visits to the Great Wall and a panda research centre, the prime minister said they were missing the point. "The Great Wall of China symbolises the extraordinary history and culture here in China and showing a bit of respect to people never cost anything," he said "You know what it does? It gives you a reward." Patient, consistent diplomacy is the government's modus operandi. Tracing the footsteps of Labor leader Gough Whitlam along the Great Wall was a powerful bit of symbolism, Prof Smith says. Mr Whitlam visited the wonder in a landmark trip as opposition leader acknowledging communist rule of the People's Republic of China in 1971, becoming one of the first Western politicians to do so. It sent a clear message about the enduring strength of the relationship, Prof Smith says. "This is probably one of the strongest cards we've got to play in terms of the relationship, that we were a first mover in recognising China. That gets us a lot of points." Premier Li praised Mr Albanese for his personal role in mending Sino-Australian relations in their meeting on Tuesday. Chinese state media, which poured endless scorn on Australia when relations were at their lowest, was glowing in its coverage of Mr Albanese, casting the previous coalition government as the source of the conflict. "In recent years, as China-Australia relations have continued to improve, the Australian government's understanding of its relationship with China has also deepened," according to an opinion piece in Chinese state-owned tabloid the Global Times. "(Mr Albanese) has demonstrated a pragmatic and rational approach to China policy. "Today's China-Australia relationship is like a plane flying in the 'stratosphere' after passing through the storm zone and the most turbulent and bumpy period has passed." Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Justin Bassi says the prime minister's visit was positive for economic relationships and trade. But the approach is not without its risks. "I think here the risks are threefold," he told ABC News. "I think there is a risk that we are used for propaganda purposes. There is a risk that … trade becomes an over-dependency and the third risk is that we provide a perception, both to China and to our own public, that short-term economics are outweighing long-term security."
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
PM on winning strategy for hearts and minds in Beijing
Few do pomp and ceremony as well as the Chinese. As he met with leaders in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was given the red carpet treatment. Rows of immaculately decorated soldiers were wheeled around the hall in perfect synchronicity and a People's Liberation Army brass band played Chinese covers of Aussie pub rock classics by the likes of Paul Kelly and Midnight Oil. The lavish display may be par for the course for world leaders ushered into the grand neoclassical sanctum of Chinese power. But the warm reception to the prime minister's six-day trip of China and gushing praise heaped upon him was notable in the highly choreographed world of Chinese political theatre, where symbolism and ritual are key. Protocols matter, says Associate Professor Graeme Smith, an expert on Chinese politics at the Australian National University. "All foreign policy, but particularly for China, is for a domestic audience," he tells AAP. "This is not about us. It's about citizens, about Chinese Communist Party members. That's what these are for and we're just a nice prop for them." The constant refrain of co-operating where they can, disagreeing where they must and engaging in the national interest was calibrated to chime with Beijing's own goals. Focusing on moving the relationship forward gave them an out for their unilateral decision to torch relations in 2020 while allowing them to save face. The unusually long duration of the prime minister's trip and the fact it occurred so soon after being re-elected, was interpreted by both sides as a sign of the importance of the two nations' relationship. Likewise, Mr Albanese remarked that the length of the meetings he had with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and National People's Congress Chairman Zhao Leji was a sign of "respect" - a word he would keep coming back to through the course of his trip. "I had meetings for around about eight hours yesterday," he said at the Great Wall on Wednesday. "It was a very long meeting but it also showed respect to both sides, the fact that President Xi didn't just have a meeting but we had a lunch where President Xi as well invited Jodie to attend. "That lunch was a sign of respect to Australia, to our country." The fact the military band at the leaders' meetings learned to play songs specifically chosen to suit the prime minister's taste showed the effort they were willing to put in. "Those gestures matter, respect matters between countries," he said. "The opportunity to sit down and have a meal and talk about personal issues, talk about things that aren't necessarily heavily political, is really important part of diplomacy. "One of the things that my government does is engage in diplomacy. We don't shout with megaphones." The contrast to the way the US conducts diplomacy under Donald Trump couldn't be more stark. The US president was a constant elephant in the room during the trip. From his first day in Shanghai, Mr Albanese's visit was almost derailed after it emerged Pentagon strategist Elbridge Colby had been pressuring Australian and Japanese diplomats to provide assurances about joining the US in a hypothetical conflict with China over Taiwan. But Mr Albanese refrained from engaging in the transactional style of diplomacy his American counterpart trades in. When the opposition criticised him for failing to bring back tangible results and "indulgent" visits to the Great Wall and a panda research centre, the prime minister said they were missing the point. "The Great Wall of China symbolises the extraordinary history and culture here in China and showing a bit of respect to people never cost anything," he said "You know what it does? It gives you a reward." Patient, consistent diplomacy is the government's modus operandi. Tracing the footsteps of Labor leader Gough Whitlam along the Great Wall was a powerful bit of symbolism, Prof Smith says. Mr Whitlam visited the wonder in a landmark trip as opposition leader acknowledging communist rule of the People's Republic of China in 1971, becoming one of the first Western politicians to do so. It sent a clear message about the enduring strength of the relationship, Prof Smith says. "This is probably one of the strongest cards we've got to play in terms of the relationship, that we were a first mover in recognising China. That gets us a lot of points." Premier Li praised Mr Albanese for his personal role in mending Sino-Australian relations in their meeting on Tuesday. Chinese state media, which poured endless scorn on Australia when relations were at their lowest, was glowing in its coverage of Mr Albanese, casting the previous coalition government as the source of the conflict. "In recent years, as China-Australia relations have continued to improve, the Australian government's understanding of its relationship with China has also deepened," according to an opinion piece in Chinese state-owned tabloid the Global Times. "(Mr Albanese) has demonstrated a pragmatic and rational approach to China policy. "Today's China-Australia relationship is like a plane flying in the 'stratosphere' after passing through the storm zone and the most turbulent and bumpy period has passed." Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Justin Bassi says the prime minister's visit was positive for economic relationships and trade. But the approach is not without its risks. "I think here the risks are threefold," he told ABC News. "I think there is a risk that we are used for propaganda purposes. There is a risk that … trade becomes an over-dependency and the third risk is that we provide a perception, both to China and to our own public, that short-term economics are outweighing long-term security."
West Australian
5 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Kevin Hogan says Anthony Albanese's lack of action to meet with Trump a ‘real shame' amid PM's trip to China
It is a 'real shame' Anthony Albanese does not have the 'same exuberance' about meeting with Donald Trump as he does Xi Jinping, the shadow Trade Minister says, describing the Prime Minister's mission to China as a 'working holiday'. Kevin Hogan made the comments as Mr Albanese prepared to arrive back on home soil after a six-day charm offensive in China where he focused on stabilising Australia's relationship with its key trading partner. During the tour Mr Albanese met with Mr Xi, his fourth meeting with the Chinese President, as well as Premier Li Qiang and National People's Congress chairman Zhao Leji, in a bid to strengthen the country's economic ties. Mr Hogan said it was important Mr Albanese made the visit, but added: 'I think it's a shame he doesn't have the same exuberance, if you like, to meet with the US President and go to the US, but that's something we need to work on'. He acknowledged Mr Albanese was working to secure a meeting with Mr Trump and said it was 'important we continue to reach out'. 'I think it's good the Prime Minister went to China, I think it's good that he did the panda thing and re-enacted Gough Whitlam's Great Wall of China visit. I don't have a criticism of that,' he said on Friday. 'They are an important trading partner, I'm glad the Prime Minister has visited there and been there for that reason. I'm just adding it's a real shame he doesn't have the same exuberance about doing that with the US President.' Opposition Finance Minister James Paterson on Thursday slammed the trip, saying though the Coalition had provided bipartisan support for the Government's trade mission, the visit had started to look 'a little bit indulgent'. Senator Paterson argued the appropriate time to do a 'nostalgic history tour of Labor Party mythology' was in retirement, not after failing to meet the US President since his election. Mr Albanese has come under intense pressure to lock in a meeting with Mr Trump after the Pentagon called a snap review into the future of the AUKUS pact. Mr Trump's trade tariffs have also been a sore point. 'We have profoundly serious issues at stake in that bilateral relationship as well, including potentially tariffs on one of our largest export industries to the United States, pharmaceuticals,' Senator Paterson said. Asked if Mr Albanese got the 'tone and balance right' with his trip, shadow Defence Minister Angus Taylor said he was 'still trying to work out what he's coming home with'. 'He went down memory lane, listened to some Midnight Oil and went in the footsteps of Gough Whitlam, but we need more than that,' he said. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek on Friday said stabilising Australia's relationship with China 'has been important particularly for our farmers, our grain growers, our wine makers, our lobster fishermen'. 'The fact that the Prime Minister is in China at the moment shows the Australian Government's commitment to making sure that it continues to be a strong economic relationship,' she told the ABC. 'The Prime Minister's had a roundtable about our iron ore exports to China. 'The iron ore that Australia exports is the largest source of foreign iron ore in China. We know how important steelmaking is for the modern economy. 'The Prime Minister's visited a tourism business. Chinese tourism to Australia is the largest source of tourism by value, it's worth more than $9 billion a year already. 'And so, people should see the potential benefits of increasing China's tourism to Australia. The hundreds of millions or billions of dollars of extra spending it will feed into the Australian economy as we see Chinese tourism increase.'
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's China trip faces criticism from opposition over ‘indulgent' optics and lack of serious negotiations
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been criticised for "indulging" in optics as he snapped pictures with pandas and strolled the Great Wall of China on the final days of his diplomatic visit to People's Republic. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has engaged in panda diplomacy on the final day of his trip to China, but faces criticism for indulging in optics rather than serious statesmanship. The final leg of Mr Albanese's trip has been dominated by symbolic gestures as he visited the Chengdu Research Centre for Giant Panda Breeding on Thursday. He posed for cameras in a Hawthorn Hawks jacket and praised the role of panda diplomacy in fostering bilateral ties. 'They're very sensible, smart,' Mr Albanese told his guide after he was informed of how pandas 'get up early' and 'move around outside'. Reflecting on his encounter with Fu Ni—a giant panda that spent 15 years at Adelaide Zoo—Mr Albanese heaped praise on the Australia-China connection. 'It's a really strong connection that is there... And the visit here has been very warmly received,' Mr Albanese told Sky News. — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 17, 2025 However, the diplomatic visit has faced heavy criticism as Mr Albanese avoided broaching serious issues confronting the Australian and Chinese governments. This was despite his government's oft-repeated claim that 'we will disagree where we must and engage in the national interest'. Throughout the trip he avoided clashing with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the Darwin Port, China's support for Russia or recent military drills near Australian waters. Instead, Mr Albanese dined with President Xi, watched a Chinese rendition of Paul Kelly and Midnight Oil songs, and walked the Great Wall of China. The opposition condemned the approach, accusing Mr Albanese of indulging in nostalgia and failing to secure substantive outcomes. Shadow finance minister James Paterson told Sky News on Thursday the 'tangible outcomes' of the trip were 'very hard to identify'. 'I do wonder whether… a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas…. is strictly necessary as part of a six-day visit to China,' he said. 'There is so much else at stake in our other international relationships. Frankly, I have to say that some of this is starting to look a little bit indulgent.' He also criticised the prioritisation of symbolism over diplomacy after Mr Albanese traced Gough Whitlam's steps along the Great Wall of China from 1971. 'The appropriate time to do a nostalgic history tour of Labor Party mythology is after you retire, in your own time, at your own expense, not on the taxpayer dime.'
