March 18, 2024
Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell has come under fire from the opposition for saying he's "not sure" the United States is Australia's most trusted ally and instead arguing New Zealand is.
Senator Farrell, who was filling in for Foreign Minister Penny Wong during Senate Question Time, made the comments after being questioned by the opposition's Claire Chandler about why the Australian government had not acted in line with the US – which is yet to restore funding to the main aid agency in Gaza, UNRWA.
On Friday, Australia resumed its additional funding to the aid agency, following Canada and the European Union doing the same, but the agency's largest donor, the US, continued its freeze.
"Why is the Albanese Labor government acting in opposition to the United States — our most trusted international partner — who await the outcomes of the investigation into UNRWA and in the interim is pursuing alternate means of delivering more humanitarian assistance?" Senator Chandler asked.
Senator Farrell said he took issue with the first statement in the question.
"I'm not sure the United States is our most trusted ally," he said.
"I would have said New Zealand in the whole history of time.
"I would have said our closest international ally is New Zealand.
"But we are very close to the United States, I freely concede that."
Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham was quick to criticise the comments.
"It beggars belief that a cabinet minister in the foreign affairs and trade portfolio would be so eager to talk down Australia's partnership with the US," he said in a statement.
"Senator Farrell's statement is something I would expect from the Greens rather than a senior government minister.
"Given the prime minister has described the US as 'our closest ally, our principal strategic partner' how can a key minister reject the notion of the US being our most trusted partner?"
He also pointed to the AUKUS partnership as an example of the US being Australia's closest ally.
"As much as we love our Kiwi cousins, it is the US who we are asking to share with us their most sensitive defence technologies," he said.
"Trust is at the core of AUKUS and Senator Farrell should know, respect and acknowledge that.
"Senator Farrell should correct the record and apologise to the US for his errant and disturbing remarks."
Liberal senator James Paterson, posting on social media, called the statement "extraordinary" and said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should "rein in his rogue colleague" if he disagreed.
In response to criticism from the opposition, Senator Farrell said in a statement the Liberals were "just playing juvenile political games."
"Everyone knows the Kiwis are family," he said.
"Everyone also knows that [the] United States is our closest ally, trusted strategic partner, and largest two-way investment partner."
