Source : Perth Now news
Anthony Albanese has cancelled his first Anzac Day trip to Gallipoli since becoming Prime Minister as war in the Middle East intensifies.
While the Prime Minister had yet to officially confirm plans for an April 25 trip to Turkey, he revealed during question time on Wednesday that those plans had been aborted “because of the circumstances of travel”.
Responding to a question from Deputy Opposition Leader Andrew Hastie, Mr Albanese said: “If he’s referring to what was a proposed trip by myself for Anzac Day in Gallipoli on April 25, yes, because of the circumstances of travel to Turkiye at the moment, I have cancelled it.”
Mr Albanese said he had “prioritised what we are dealing with at the moment”, including engaging with Australia’s regional partners.
“That’s a responsible and right thing to do,” he said.
Critical of the government’s response to the Iran war, Mr Hastie had told the chamber there were “reports government ministers have cancelled travel and events in April”.
“Has the government received advice of any additional fuel ships bound for Australia that have been delayed or cancelled?” he asked.
Mr Albanese has not attended Anzac Day services in Turkey since becoming prime minister.
In 2023 and 2025, the Labor leader remained in Australia, while in 2024 he attended a service in Papua New Guinea.
The decision comes as the outcome of the US-Israel war on Iran remains in doubt.
US President Donald Trump has indicated the war would last only several more weeks. Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its invasion of Lebanon and is facing attacks from the Iran-backed Houthi group for the first time.
More than 2500 people have been killed in Iran, Lebanon, and across the Middle East since the US and Israel’s surprise attack on Iran on February 28.
