Albanese bets on trade brawl to bash Coalition amid inflation woes
The prime minister has seized on Coalition dissent after this masthead revealed one Liberal warned the Nationals’ position on the EU free trade deal was “nutty”.
“This is just an excuse for going down the road of protectionist and nativist politics. Nativist politics is not in Australia’s national interest. We are a trading nation.”
Albanese, who is struggling in the polls and facing increasing criticism on inflation, tried to turn the EU deal into a political test for the opposition. Labor used nearly all its set-piece speeches in question time on Wednesday to argue for the free trade agreement.
In a press conference to spruik the under-pressure government’s agenda, Albanese cited an upcoming APEC meeting between Donald Trump, often described as a nativist, and Xi Jinping and said at that summit “Australia wants to be ... for free and fair trade unequivocally”.
The prime minister’s attack is unlikely to sway Canavan and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor. Canavan frustrated his Liberal colleagues by going out early and declaring both parties were against the deal before the shadow cabinet or leadership group had agreed. But on the substance of the deal, most Liberals agree the proposed agreement locks future governments into the Paris climate accord, shortchanges dairy and red meat producers, and embeds contentious, pro-union labour rules.
