The trials of foreign ministers! Who should you signal to at home, and how strongly?
Foreign Minister Penny Wong will not visit the southern Israeli towns where the October 7 massacres occurred, marking another break in Australia’s position from some of its closest allies whose leaders have visited the Jewish state in the aftermath of terror group Hamas’s assault.
No worries, let Albo signal virtue as well:
Anthony Albanese has failed to support Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s decision to not visit October 7 massacre sites on her visit to Israel, saying her itinerary is up to her.
Oh no!
The Australian foreign minister will meet victims and survivors of Hamas’ October 7 attack but Jewish groups have taken a dim view of her failure to visit the scene.
Meanwhile, actual policy is non-existent:
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia has already provided the US and the UK with “the help that is required” for them to respond to the Houthi’s attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
What was required was an actual ship to show actual support for actual freedom of navigation and actual oil trade, not pointless gesturing to domestic audiences wagging the national interest dog.
