Labor Minister ‘Not Sure’ If US Is Australia’s Most Trusted Ally

Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham is calling on Senator Don Farrell to set the record straight.

Australian and U.S. flags are seen during the 33rd Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) meeting in Brisbane, Australia, on July 29, 2023. Australian Department of Defence

Senior Albanese government minister Don Farrell has been asked to apologise after he said “I’m not sure that the United States is our most trusted ally.”

The trade minister, who was representing Foreign Minister Penny Wong on March 18, said he believes Australia’s closest international ally is New Zealand.