Editorial: Wishy-washy Anthony Albanese puts Australia on the outer
Close to 24 hours after the United States bombed key Iranian nuclear facilities, Anthony Albanese finally stood to address the nation.
This was a pivotal point in history: Australia's closest military and strategic ally had made a bold strike against one of the world's most tyrannical and dangerous regimes. Australians want to know what it all means, and what was likely to come next.
They got a Prime Minister who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.
It was clear from Mr Albanese's curt manner at his Monday morning press conference that he didn't want any part of US President Donald Trump's surprise attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
He said what he had to: that Iran could not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and that Australia was in support of actions to prevent that nightmare scenario.
But Mr Albanese also stressed that Australia was not involved in this conflict. Five times, the Prime Minister said that this had been a 'unilateral action' by the US.
And when asked directly, repeatedly, whether Australia was given any heads-up an action would occur prior to the bombs falling, Mr Albanese skirted the question.
What he did say was that he had not spoken to Mr Trump since before last week's G7 summit, which the President left a day early, causing the planned sit-down between the two leaders to be abandoned.
Australia-US relations have never been at a lower ebb.
Mr Trump is a challenging character. And Mr Albanese isn't alone in his distaste for him. Successive polls have found Australians are among the world's biggest critics of him, finding him dangerous and untrustworthy.
But this isn't about Donald Trump the man. This is about the fact that the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran is an intolerable one. Iran's regime is the antithesis to liberal democracy, obsessed with the destruction of Israel and of Western values.
The decision by the US to join Israel in doing what needed to be done — despite Mr Trump's clear personal preference not to get involved in matters beyond his borders — was the right one.
Contrast Mr Albanese's non-existent relationship with Mr Trump's administration with that of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who did get a heads-up about the US' intentions in Iran.
Mr Albanese and Mr Starmer are ideological kin, sharing a leftist world view.
Yet where Mr Albanese wears his repugnance towards Mr Trump on his sleeve, Mr Starmer makes it work.
The result is a UK which is firmly within the Western alliance, and an Australia increasingly on its outer.
Mr Albanese must make it his priority to repair Australia's deteriorating relationship with the US.
That means we need an effective ambassador in Washington. While this is not intended as a Kevin Rudd-bashing exercise, it is apparent he is not that person. Shifting him out and finding the right person to serve Australia's interests in the Trump era is one step along the road to restoring our alliance.
Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by Editor-in-Chief Christopher Dore.
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Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
US attacks Iran as it happened: Albanese government supports Iranian nuclear facility bombings; Trump threatens regime change, promises to ‘Make Iran Great Again'
Key posts 8.56pm In brief: The latest on the situation in the Middle East 8.38pm Putin and Araghchi meet in Moscow 8.21pm Israel attacking with 'unprecedented intensity', warns Iranian threat 'not behind us' 7.21pm 'Very heavy damage' expected at Fordow target: UN nuclear watchdog 6.31pm US military bases a potential target following Trump 'act of animosity': Iran ambassador 12.28pm 'Bullseye!': Trump insists Iran's nuclear assets have been destroyed 12.18pm Iran threatened Trump with 'sleeper cell' attacks inside US: report 11.38am 'Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon': PM Hide key posts Latest posts Pinned post from yesterday 8.56pm In brief: The latest on the situation in the Middle East Thank you for joining us today as we covered the rapidly developing conflict between Israel and Iran. We'll be back tomorrow morning with more live coverage as the two countries trade missile strikes in warfare that shows no signs of easing. Here's a quick overview of the latest developments: Iran's ambassador to Australia has warned that blocking the vital Strait of Hormuz oil and gas route and attacks on US military bases were on the table. Iran said US bombing of its nuclear facilities gave it a 'free hand' to retaliate, as America urged Tehran to return to the negotiating table. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia supported the US strikes on Iran to prevent the development of a nuclear weapon, but refused to share details about whether Australia provided the US with military or intelligence support beforehand. US President Donald Trump insisted Iran's nuclear assets were obliterated after conflicting messages from his administration and the military in the aftermath of the US strikes. The UN nuclear watchdog was anticipating extensive damage to the Fordow nuclear site from the US strikes, before Iranian media reported the uranium enrichment site was targeted again. Iran and Israel traded barrages of missile fire, as Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military was attacking Tehran with 'unprecedented intensity'. Large explosions were heard in Iran's capital, and Israelis were warned to take shelter. Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that the US aggression against Iran was groundless as the pair met in Moscow. yesterday 8.38pm Putin and Araghchi meet in Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin has told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that the US aggression against Iran was groundless as the pair met in Moscow. 'The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification,' Putin told Araghchi in televised comments. 'For our part, we are making efforts to assist the Iranian people,' he said. 'I am very glad that you are in Moscow today, this will give us the opportunity to discuss all these pressing issues and think together about how we could get out of today's situation.' Araghchi told Putin that Iran was conducting legitimate self-defence, and thanked Russia for condemning the US. He added: 'Russia is today on the right side of history and international law.' Reuters yesterday 8.21pm Israel attacking with 'unprecedented intensity', warns Iranian threat 'not behind us' Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says the military is attacking Tehran targets with 'unprecedented intensity'. Israel's Defence Ministry said it hit targets including the notorious Evin Prison in the Iranian capital and the security headquarters of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards in the latest wave of strikes. 'The Iranian dictator will be punished with full force for attacking the Israeli home front,' the ministry said. Iranian state television confirmed one Israeli strike hit the gate of Evin Prison. The report shared what appeared to be black-and-white-surveillance footage of the strike. Evin Prison is known for holding dual nationals and Westerners often used by Iran as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West. Evin also has specialised units for political prisoners and those with Western ties, run by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The facility is the target of both US and European Union sanctions. An Israeli military spokesperson warned the Iranian attacks on Israel 'are not behind us', and claimed the airforce has hit every Iranian base from which missiles have been launched. The spokesperson added the Israeli military chief is in regular contact with his US counterpart. With AP, Reuters yesterday 7.55pm Russia did not know details of US strike: Kremlin spokesman A Kremlin spokesman has told reporters President Donald Trump did not give detailed strike information to Russian President Vladimir Putin in advance, though they had discussed the possibility of US military involvement more generally. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had offered its services as a mediator between Iran and the US, and what happened next would depend on what Iran needed. He said the fate of a nation's leadership should be up to the people, referring to Trump's earlier comments about wanting to usher in a regime change in Iran. He said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi could share Tehran's proposals in his upcoming meeting with Putin today in Moscow, where it is approaching 1pm. Peskov condemned the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, which he said had increased the participants embroiled in the conflict and ushered in a new spiral of escalation. Before the US strike, Moscow had warned that US military intervention could destabilise the entire region and plunge it into the 'abyss'. Russia signed a strategic partnership treaty with Iran in January, although it did not include a mutual defence clause. yesterday 7.31pm Fordow hit again, electricity outages in Iran and Israel following missile exchange Just as we report the UN nuclear watchdog was anticipating extensive damage to the Fordow nuclear site from the US strike, Iranian media is reporting the uranium enrichment site has been hit again in the latest wave of Israeli strikes. Reports offered no word on the extent of any damage. Local media says electricity has been cut in northern Tehran following the strikes, and the Red Crescent Society says a missile hit near its building. Meanwhile in Israel, electricity supply has been disrupted in the south after Iranian strikes damaged a strategic infrastructure facility, according to Israeli media. yesterday 7.21pm 'Very heavy damage' expected at Fordow target: UN nuclear watchdog The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog says 'very heavy damage' is expected at Iran's underground facility at Fordow after the US airstrike with sophisticated bunker-buster bombs. 'Given the explosive payload utilised and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred,' head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi said in Vienna. He added that 'at this time, no one, including the IAEA, is in a position to have fully assessed the underground damage at Fordow'. AP yesterday 6.31pm US military bases a potential target following Trump 'act of animosity': Iran ambassador By Brittany Busch Iran's ambassador to Australia has warned US military bases could be targeted following Donald Trump's 'act of animosity' towards Iran. Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi said the attacks disproved Trump's claim he was a man of peace and they would have consequences, speaking in an interview with Channel Nine in Canberra. When asked if that meant the targeting of US military and the closure of key shipping lane, the Strait of Hormuz, Sadeghi said Iran would do 'whatever necessary'. 'Islamic countries all around the world would consider this act of animosity, and they won't be silent,' he said. He denied Iran was enriching uranium to a weapons-grade level, and added his nation was friendly towards Australia. yesterday 6.06pm Iranian barrage hits Israel, Israeli media reports By Brittany Busch We reported earlier Israelis in the north of the country were being warned to take shelter as missiles were launched from Iran. The Times of Israel is reporting the assault has widened to include central and southern Israel in one of the longest Iranian attacks of the war, and that medics are responding to a ballistic missile strike in the Ashdod area in the south, though there are no reported injuries at this stage. Missiles have been seen flying over Jerusalem, and loud thuds were heard to the south of capital, according to Reuters.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Can the US Air Force bust Matt's studio bunker?
The United States has dropped some very large bombs on Iran, inserting itself into what we are currently calling the Israel-Iran War, despite Donald Trump saying just days earlier that he was going to spend two weeks thinking about it. The bombs they dropped managed to destroy or at least severely damage a nuclear facility buried 90 metres underground. Which kind of makes Matt's studio basement bunker superfluous. So what's next? Matt is joined by Emma Shortis, Director of the Australia Institute's International and Security Affairs Program and host of podcast and book After America to chat about what this means for the Middle East, and whether Australia will get pulled into the conflict. Follow If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
Israel strikes Iran's notorious Evin Prison
Israel targeted Evin prison in Tehran on Monday, one of the most potent symbols of Iran's governing system, in what Israel called the most intense bombing yet of the Iranian capital, a day after the United States joined the war by blasting nuclear sites. Iran repeated earlier threats to retaliate against the United States. But it had yet to so in a meaningful way more than 24 hours after US. bombers dropped 30,000 pound bunker-busters on its underground nuclear sites, while US President Donald Trump openly mused about overthrowing the Iranian government. Oil prices barely budged on the first trading day after the U.S. joined the war, suggesting traders doubted Iran would follow through on threats to disrupt oil supplies from the Gulf. The Mizan news outlet of Iran's judiciary confirmed that the prison had been hit. It said part of the building was damaged but the situation was under control. A video posted by Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar on X showed an explosion at a building with a sign identifying it as an entrance to Evin prison in northern Tehran and the accompanying words: 'Viva la libertad!' - Spanish for 'Long live liberty.' Reuters could not immediately verify the video. Loading Evin has been the primary prison for housing political detainees and security prisoners, notably since Iran's 1979 revolution, and the site of executions that remain potent symbols for the opposition. It is where several high-profile foreign prisoners are also held. Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a Melbourne-based scholar of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies was held in solitary confinement at the prison following her arrest in 2018. Moore-Gilbert, who was sentenced to 10 years on trumped-up charges of espionage after attending a conference, returned to Australia following a prisoner swap in November 2020. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz made clear that Israel was no longer limiting its attacks to its initial stated targets such as Iran's nuclear programme and missiles, and would go after the Tehran government's ability to maintain power.
