Anthony Albanese has attacked Scott Morrison’s international credibility during a fiery interview with Alan Jones – after Grace Tame slammed the Labor leader for appearing on the shock jock’s show.
Mr Albanese sat down with the Sydney broadcaster at his new studio on Monday, where he was questioned on a range of issues from the cost of living to foreign policy.
The former 2GB presenter asked if Australians were right to be “really worried” about Mr Albanese becoming the country’s “face of the world” before the Labor leader ripped into Mr Morrison’s own scandals.
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Anthony Albanese has attacked Scott Morrison’s international credibility during a fiery interview with Alan Jones
“As Prime Minister you would represent the nation around the world and whilst they may not like the Morrison government they are genuinely concerned at how it seems Anthony Albanese is Australia’s face to the world. How do you deal with that?’ Jones asked.
“Well, I’ll tell you one thing I wouldn’t do… leak private text messages from other national leaders by our allies, and that of course happened to Emmanuel Macron with Mr Morrison,” Mr Albanese replied.
“I think that’s going to make world leaders really break their association with him. And that was a real concern.’
The Labor leader was referring to the scrapped submarine deal with France, which saw Australia abandon a $90 billion deal to side with a US-UK-led programme, angering Mr Macron .
The French leader told reporters: “I don’t think so, I know” when asked if he thinks Mr Morrison lied to him, before text messages between Australian and French diplomats were leaked the next day.
The news, from an unnamed source, was provided as evidence Mr Macron knew the Subs deal was in trouble.
Mr Albanese attacked Mr Morrison over the botched submarine deal with France – in which President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) accused his Australian counterpart of lying
Mr Albanese suggested Mr Morrison’s office was behind the leaks, before insisting he already has ties with many world leaders.
“I represented Australia at the very first G20 meeting. I know President Biden; I know our allies; I met Prime Minister (Boris) Johnson – I wouldn’t say I know him well, but I met him when he was Chair of the London Council.
“As a senior minister in the former Labor government, I have been involved in international fora for a considerable period.”
Mr Albanese suggested Mr Morrison’s office was behind leaked text messages that surfaced the day after the French leader’s incredible attack
Mr Albanese’s interview with Mr Jones made headlines earlier in the night when Grace Tame, who recently sat down with Mr Albanese for an interview with InStyle, captioned the image of the Labor leader and Mr Jones: ‘Side eye SIDE EYE shared.
Until now, Ms Tame has been a vocal supporter of Mr Albanese as the pair have huddled together to pose for photos at several high profile events.
It contrasts with the frosty relationship she has with the Prime Minister, whom she has taken numerous beatings since being named Australian of the Year 2021.
The side eye reference in Ms Tame’s latest tweet is believed to be to her infamous encounter with Mr Morrison earlier this year.
Grace Tame (left) slammed Labor opposition leader Anthony Albanese (right).
She expressed her bitter disapproval of Mr Albanese’s interview with the shock jock.
“Yes, no, here you could have just frowned and walked away. Or better yet, haven’t done it yet,” she tweeted.
“There are many other ways to expand your message without activating known agents of sexism and abuse. None of us are obligated to speak to fanatics. The optics of it are not good.”
Mr Jones later issued a statement saying Ms Tame was entitled to her opinion.
During their InStyle interview, the pair addressed a wide range of topics, from Mr Albanese’s upbringing, Mr Morrison, gender diversity, the Covid pandemic and Ms Tame’s infamous bong photo.
The Labor leader told Ms Tame how his single mother Maryanne struggled to raise him at her community center in Camperdown in Sydney’s Inner West in the 1960s – which brought Ms Tame to tears.
Halfway through the video link interview, Mr Albanese cut his story short when he realized tears were streaming down Ms Tame’s face.
Grace Tame expressed her feelings about Mr. Albanese’s sitting with Alan Jones
The couple later drew criticism for staying away from discussing allegations of bullying by Labour’s “mean girls” following the recent death of Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching of a sudden heart attack.
They also posed for a selfie on Australia Day, a day after Ms Tame’s chilly exchange with the Prime Minister.
“With our legendary Australian of the Year, Grace Tame. She uses her voice to advocate for survivors of child sexual abuse everywhere. Their strength makes Australia stronger,” Mr Albanese tweeted at the time.
The angry outburst was sparked when Mr Albanese shared a photo from his sit-in interview with the controversial channel, which aired on Monday night.
Grace Tame appeared unfazed by Anthony Albanese’s sitting with Alan Jones
Commentators suggested that Ms Tame’s dissatisfaction was misguided and that the Labor leader has a duty to speak to all sectors of the public.
“I can’t agree with that. As a prospective prime minister, Albanese has a duty to reach out to those who are diametrically opposed to his beliefs. The show, whether you like Jones or not, makes that possible – the opportunity to change hearts and minds. In no way does Jones’ behavior enable it. This is unfair,” wrote one.
One woman added: “It’s politics, not an invitation to dinner. He has to try to appeal to different voters. And he cannot be considered a “leftist” as that now has a toxic connotation. It’s tough, but that’s the reality.’
One man speculated that the photo was not all as it seemed.
“That’s not a smile, that’s clenched teeth,” he wrote.
Grace Tame (right) came under fire for her frosty exchange with the Prime Minister (left) at an Australian of the Year event at The Lodge earlier this year
It comes as Labor has widened its lead over the coalition, but Mr Morrison still remains Australia’s preferred Prime Minister, according to the latest Newspoll.
Australians reported that Labor now holds 39 per cent of the vote, compared to 35 per cent for the Liberals and Nationals – the best lead Anthony Albanese’s party has had during the current general election campaign.
However, the Labor leader is still behind Mr Morrison in the Prime Minister’s vote by 44-42, however Mr Albanese is up three points over the past week while the Liberal leader is down a point.
Labor leads coalition 54-46 in bipartisan preferential vote, rising for first time since early April.
The soaring cost of living has put Labor in a tighter grip on the election and the opposition gained confidence ahead of Mr Morrison’s government, which has seen interest rates rise for the first time in 11 years.
Newspoll saw 44 per cent of voters put their trust in Mr Albanese to better plan rising costs, ahead of 41 per cent in Mr Morrison.
