‘So disrespectful’: Albanese blasts reporter at Pacific Islands press conference

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese engaged in a heated exchange with 7NEWS political reporter Josh Martin yesterday, during a press conference at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau.

Martin questioned the PM about whether Australian taxpayers were getting value for money from the upcoming pre-COP climate events in Fiji and Tuvalu, as taxpayers had paid millions for the event - with “only” five non-Pacific world leaders (from Thailand, Antigua and Barbuda, Cabo Verde, the Maldives, and Timor-Leste) having confirmed their attendance so far.

Martin asked whether the absence of response from major global powers such as the US, UK, and China made the meeting a "dud".

Stating that the COP event will cost taxpayers “more than $20 million dollars," he asked, "is that money well-spent considering only five leaders are showing up?”

Albanese snappily rejected the assertion and told off the reporter for his attitude.

“That's not true. With respect, you are being so disrespectful to the Pacific leaders who are here,” Albanese reprimanded Martin.

As Martin tried to interject, the PM continued, “We have to have some respect for the process, and for our Pacific leaders. Did they count Fiji? Did they count Australia?"

Martin questioned, “What about respect for taxpayers?”

But Albanese continued, “Australia has an absolute interest in engaging with the Pacific.

“There isn't one leader here who has criticised Australia for bringing the pre-COP to the Pacific.”

 

 

 

 

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The Prime Minister added:

“The entry fee for credibility in the Pacific, including on national security issues.

“There’s lots of rhetoric about national security, but if you want to look at what the cost would be of an event, or some of the things that countries might want to do in the Pacific, and what the cost would be of a response to that, then I’ll tell you what, you’re not talking about those sort of figures.

“You’re talking about a much, much larger figure.”

Seven reported that taxpayers have contributed $5.6 million in accommodation and venue costs for the four-day October event. The government has responded that much of the expenditure will be recovered from participating delegations.