Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese during the Minerals Week luncheon at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Dutton used question time to lash Mr Albanese for his comments,declaring they were not in the national interest.
“At a time when our partners are coming together,at a time when our partners understand the intelligence and the threats within our region,the Leader of the Opposition is out there seeking to undermine the position of this country,” Mr Dutton said.
Mr Albanese’s commentsfollowed criticism from Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong,in which she accused the government of encouraging anxiety about war with China for domestic purposes.
Senator Wong later said her comments were not a break in bipartisanship but it was in Australia’s national interest to be critical of how the Morrison government was handling the relationship.
Mr Albanese said Mr Morrison had no long-term strategy to deal with a changing China that was pressing its interests more assertively,while finding areas of potential co-operation,including on trade,that were in both countries’ interests.
“Mr Morrison is making the grave error of prioritising his domestic political interests over Australia’s national interests,” he said.
“Australia needs more strategy and less politics when it comes to managing our differences with China. But foreign policy is not a game. It’s not a photo op. It’s a serious business with profound security and economic implications.”