Albanese went beyond Gaza talking points in press conference

Anthony Albanese diverged from a number of key talking points prepared for him when he delivered his most emphatic condemnations to date of Israel’s military actions in the Middle East, calling aid blockades an “outrage”.

At the May 26 press conference, alongside representatives from the National Emergency Management Agency as floods ravaged his home state of New South Wales, Albanese also took questions on the conflict in the Middle East and made what were described as “some of his strongest comments yet” on Israel’s plans for the region.

Those remarks came a week after Australia made a joint statement with 23 other nations on humanitarian aid to Gaza following an Israeli announcement of military expansion in the region. Those countries included the likes of Canada, the UK, New Zealand, France, Germany and Japan.

Documents obtained under freedom of information laws show that during his answers to the press, the prime minister diverged significantly from the advice prepared for him by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“It is outrageous that there be a blockade of food and supplies to people who are in need in Gaza,” Albanese said.

“I made it very clear that Australia finds these actions as completely unacceptable, and we find Israel’s excuses and explanations completely untenable and without credibility. People are starving, and the idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage. Now, that is my clear position. It’s one I’ve indicated clearly and directly to the Israeli government.”

Albanese’s criticisms of the Israeli government’s “excuses and explanations” were not included in the talking points prepared by the department, nor were his criticisms on the idea of a “democratic state [withholding] supply”.

The document provided by the department to Crikey had nine top-line talking points, some of which were mentioned by Albanese in his responses to press, but many of which went unmentioned.

The talking points mention: “Civilians must be protected and all hostages released.”

While Albanese mentioned the release of hostages, he didn’t mention the protection of civilians.

The document also mentions that Australia is in support of a two-state solution, noting that it is supportive of “a Palestinian state and the State of Israel, living side by side in peace and security within internationally recognised borders”. While Albanese has consistently mentioned Australia’s diplomatic position in support of a two-state solution in the region in other remarks, he did not mention it in this press conference.

Criticisms of Hamas in the talking points go largely unmentioned by Albanese – outside of a brief reference in Albanese’s remarks that Hamas has “no role in the future of Gaza”.

The talking points also note at some length the importance of “the protection and welfare of Palestinian civilians”.

“Protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international law. The right of self-defence is not unconstrained: force used in self-defence must be necessary to address the threat or use of force and it must be proportionate to the threat that is faced,” the points read.

These points were also not raised by Albanese in his press conference. As previous reporting in Crikey has noted, there is a working and malleable relationship between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, as well as the Prime Minister’s Office itself that will fundamentally dictate which talking points end up in front of Albanese. Subsequently, there are a number of factors that may dictate whether or not the prime minister makes public remarks in line with DFAT advice.