Starmer charmer
Anthony Albanese's decision to address a partisan political rally in the UK has been criticised as unusual and self-indulgent. But there could be a more pragmatic angle.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision to address the UK Labour Party’s conference this weekend immediately put his colleagues on the defensive at home. Every Labor MP fronting cameras yesterday was forced to justify the use of taxpayer funds on a partisan political rally overseas.
After dodging the question on Monday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers eventually claimed the speaking slot has “traditionally been given by a leader of another country”.
“That's not especially unusual,” he insisted.
We asked Chalmers’ office for clarity on that point and received no response. But the prime minister’s office later provided us a list of foreign personalities who had addressed the conference — including singer Bono.
In fact, it is unusual for sitting foreign leaders to take the stage. Albanese is the first in two decades to do so, and the only Australian this century at least. Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton have both graced the stage, though only as private citizens after leaving office.
