The Australian has reported today that the Albanese Government was aware of a Russian request to use Indonesian airfields in March.
The Government has refused to provide the Opposition with a briefing on this matter, which goes to the core of Australia’s national security. Any attempt by Russian to gain access to airfields just 1300km from Darwin is plainly an issue of grave concern.
Instead of providing a briefing, the Government has provided a series of evasive, deceptive, shifty responses.
On 16 April Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Sunrise, in relation to the Russian request:
“Well, hang on, we have not got confirmation of that approach. So I just want to be really clear, we have not got confirmation of that approach.”
On 19 April, when asked about the Opposition’s request for a briefing on the Russian proposal, Prime Minister Albanese said:
“I mean, do they want a briefing on the fake moon landing?”
On 20 April, Cabinet Minister Murray Watt said: “there is no proposal from Russia to have a base anywhere in Indonesia”, and that the Opposition “might as well ask for a briefing on the Loch Ness monster”.
Defence Minister Richard Marles initially said there would be no problem with providing the Opposition with a briefing – and then reversed his position and said no briefing would be provided.
A briefing should be provided to the Opposition immediately – in the same way that the previous Government provided briefings on national security matters to the Opposition, including during the last election campaign.
The Government has deliberately sought to mislead and obfuscate in order to not come clean on what knowledge it had – and what action it took – in relation to the Russian proposal.
It is obvious that the Prime Minister is hiding something. He does not want officials to provide a briefing, because he knows they are bound to tell the Opposition the truth about the Government’s actions – or lack action – on this issue. And he clearly does not want the truth to be told.
In his continuing deception and evasion on this matter, Mr Albanese is failing a crucial character test. His conduct is beneath the office of Prime Minister. He must put his political embarrassment aside and come clean.