Anthony Albanese is slammed for making a huge snub as PM tries to shake off unflattering nickname: 'Dereliction of duty'
- Prime Minister won't attend NATO summit
- Opposition called it a 'dereliction of duty'
- READ MORE: Voters turn on PM over four-word phrase
Anthony Albanese has been slammed after turning down an invitation to join a summit in the United States.
The Prime Minister will not join a select group of world leaders at a NATO summit in Washington later this month.
Defence minister Richard Marles will instead attend the event and join leaders from the US, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and most western European countries.
An unnamed source told the Sydney Morning Herald that Mr Albanese's advisers warned him not to make the trip as his government is being slammed over the cost-of-living crisis.
Concerns were reportedly raised that the trip could add fuel to criticism about Mr Albanese's overseas travels - with his frequent departures earning him the nickname 'Airbus Albo'.
The nickname began circulating on social media and eventually in Opposition commentary after the Prime Minister notched up 31 overseas trips in his first seven months in office.
Liberal foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham on Tuesday accused Mr Albanese of committing 'a dereliction of duty' by not going to the summit.
'The number one responsibility of a government is the national security of the nation,' he told Sky News.
Mr Albanese attended the previous two NATO summits, in the Spanish city of Madrid in 2022 and the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius last year, calling them 'essentially the meeting globally of the world's democratic leaders'
'The bringing together of the NATO nations together with the four Asia Pacific nations is a grouping of the very first types of nations and partners and allies who we would call upon if we were in trouble.'
Mr Birmingham claimed the Prime Minister was more concerned about winning votes.
'Anthony Albanese would rather be campaigning to shore up Labor marginal seats than sitting down with the NATO leaders to ensure global security and our national security interests are heard, is an appalling representation of his priorities,' he said.
Mr Birmingham did not accept Mr Marles as an adequate substitute.
'We should expect the Prime Minister to do the job as the nation's leader,' he said.
'Now, if Anthony Albanese has an absolutely compelling reason, let him state it as to why he cannot go.
'But if this is just because he'd rather be at home campaigning or dealing and responding to the internal chaos in the Labor Party, well, that is not a good enough reason.'
Anthony Albanese has been slammed after turning down an invite to join a summit of world leaders in the US
An unnamed diplomatic source in Brussels said Mr Albanese's decision was 'disappointing'.
'This gathering of leaders will hopefully send a message that the world's leading democracies are united when it comes to preserving the rules-based order,' the source said.
'Australia will be represented but of course, it would be preferable if all the leaders of all nations were there.'
A government source claimed Mr Albanese made the decision after he was unable to confirm a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden.
Mr Albanese attended the previous two NATO summits, in the Spanish city of Madrid in 2022 and the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius last year, calling them 'essentially the meeting globally of the world's democratic leaders'.
