Australian news and politics recap June 10: Albo reveals agenda for Parliament in National Press Club address

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Scroll back through for a recap on what Anthony Albanese said Labor will tackle first when Parliament resumes in his National Press Club address. Albo also revealed new staff joining his team and shared how Australia can use influence to keep peace with China.

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Anthony Albanese has called for an end to personal attacks on politicians or wannabe politicians over historical social media posts.

The PM said the well-worn practice, which was rife in the last election, will jeopardise people from taking up the profession.

“I think that politics has changed. People need to chill out about stuff that people will have on social media,” he said.

“If people are held to account for what a 21-year-old has on social media in ten years time, then we won’t have anyone willing to put their hand up in public life. It needs to change.

“You know, I wouldn’t particularly appreciate everything being documented when I was in Young Labor, let me tell you.”

His call for an end comes despite both sides of politics having known “dirt units” where political staffers dig up unfavourable material about their rivals.

Asked directly during his National Press Club address whether “China is a potential military threat to Australia?” Anthony Albanese instead referred to the need for “peace” in the region.

“We have strategic competition in the region,” the Prime Minister said.

“We have a defence strategic review, which outlines what Australia’s defence needs are.

“And we engage constructively in the region, including with China, and including with ASEAN.

“It is in Australia’s interests and indeed, the world’s interest for there to be peace and security in our region. That’s our position.

“That’s the mature way in which we are able, as a middle power, to exercise influence in the region.”

Anthony Albanese has accused the Coalition of being “unprepared” in policy but “prepared in rhetoric”.

The Prime Minister’s stinging sledge came when he was asked about his refusal to lift defence spending alongside other ally nations.

Lifting defence spending had been one of Peter Dutton’s key policies unveiled during the final week of the election campaign, and since then has been a line pushed by Coalition members in the media.

He accused the Coalition of promising to splash $21 billion on defence with no plan on where the money would be funnelled.

“(They) couldn’t say where it was coming from or where it was going to,” he said. “Australians voted on May 3 against a (party)... frankly unprepared for government.”

“The only place that they were prepared was in rhetoric. You can’t defend a country with rhetoric, you defend it with assets.

“We’ll always provide for (the) capability that’s needed.”

Asked how he’ll approach negotiating his second-term agenda after Parliament returns on July 22, the PM said he’s already got the ball rolling with meetings across the chamber.

Anthony Albanese said he has already met with new Liberal Leader Sussan Ley and Nationals Leader David Littleproud.

“I’m respectful. I contacted both the leaders. I welcome constructive dialogue. I welcome input as well. We’ll treat the crossbenchers with respect,” he told the National Press Club.

He said he has also offered to sit down with new Greens Leader Larissa Waters.

“We treat people with respect. If they’ve got ideas, we’re up for it. I welcome the fact that Sussan has made some constructive discussion, and Larissa as well,” the PM said.

“But we’ll wait and see. The proof will be in the pudding.”

Anthony Albanese has been tight-lipped on the reclaiming of the Port of Darwin from a Chinese enterprise.

The Prime Minister had raced to beat the Coalition’s pledge to put the port back in Australian hands during the Federal election. But since then, there’s been rumours that a United States firm was interested in taking on the lease from Landbridge.

Asked “would a friendly partner nation also be ok?” the PM responded to say he “won’t pre-empt those processes”.

“We won’t pre-empt those processes, but my view is very clear. I think that it should be in Australian hands, is what I’ve said very clearly. I haven’t changed my view since it was made.”

He said it was the “wrong decision” by a former Coalition Government to lease an “Australian national asset” to a Chinese firm.

Anthony Albanese has doubled down on his Government’s support for the News Media Bargaining Code, saying it “plays a vital role” and he won’t budge on policies to protect it.

In December, the Government flagged a potential levy on tech giants like Meta, who refuse to negotiate with news publishers, but progress has since stalled

Speaking at the National Press Club on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said: “We’re dealing with our policies, including on the news media a bargaining code”.

“We certainly support the news bargaining code, and we’ve made it very clear.”

“It plays a vital role.”

The PM has said he will act in Australia’s national interest if he gets a meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the upcoming G7 in Canada.

Anthony Albanese said he believes that Australia and the US can find “win-wins” in their relationship.

“Yes, I believe that there are (win-wins). I will engage in those discussions respectfully, as we have, over recent months,” he said.

“As we did with the European Union, we’ll only sign up to things that are in Australia’s national interest.

Despite the areas where they can find ground, the PM warned there were several topics he won’t budge on.

“So on things like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the media bargaining code, our biosecurity in agriculture - they’re not on the table as far as we’re concerned.”

Anthony Albanese has declared he wants to have a “mature discussion” at the productivity roundtable in August.

“I want people to be able to have a discussion. To be able to have a discussion without screaming headlines,” the PM told the National Press Club.

“I want people to be able to have a mature discussion around a room.

“Are there win-wins on productivity? Are there win-wins in a whole range of areas? How do we use that to boost productivity going forward?”

Anthony Albanese says he has raised the issue of an Australian reporter shot with a rubber bullet while covering a protest in the US with the Trump Administration.

Nine’s US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was covering chaotic protests in Los Angeles when she was shot in the leg by a police officer who was standing guard in the city’s downtown district.

“We have already raised these issues with the US administration,” the PM said.

“We don’t find it acceptable that it occurred. And we think that the role of the media is particularly important.”

He declined to offer what was said in his correspondence.