Back to tariffs – how is it sending a message of unity on the tariffs, to also remind people (including the Trump administration, to who Dutton directed his opening remarks at the press conference) of previous comments against Trump?

Dutton:

It’s a statement of fact. You can’t just brush over the history of the judgements the prime minister has made. He’s made shocking judgements as prime minister. Also as opposition leader and before that as a minister. There are consequences for that. I can’t apologise for comments the Prime Minister has previously made to now damage the relationship, that’s an issue for the Prime Minister to address. That’s a question you can ask him.

…What I do know is Donald Trump is hearing those messages and I don’t think it is productive to the dynamic in the relationship.

Again, Anthony Albanese has refused to criticise Trump, even when other world leaders have, including most recently on Trump’s horrendous and illegal plans for Gaza. Australia didn’t sign the letter including other allies of backing the International Criminal Court following Trump’s attacks on it. Trump himself just literally called Albanese a “very fine man”.

None of this is to defend Albanese for his appeasement policy with Trump, but Dutton is trying to claim that Trump won’t talk to him because of previous comments, when it is very obvious that Trump is talking to him.