ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Labor insiders have shared candid details about a phone call between the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and an old mate of his.
The former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was on the other end of the line and on the receiving end of some advice given by the Prime Minister after Turnbull enjoyed making some remarks about US President Donald Trump in the nation’s media this week.
It comes as Albanese and US Ambassador Kevin Rudd, also an ex-PM, tried and seemingly failed to get a tariff exemption for Australian steel and aluminium products this week.
Last month, the US Government announced they would be putting tariff on all steel and aluminium products coming into the country, which is a kick in the shins for our local manufacturers of that kind of stuff. As Turnbull will tell anyone, he was able to secure an exemption the first time Trump tried this during his first tilt at the presidency.
While this government has been negotiating behind the scenes with the Americans, Malcolm’s criticisms of Trump caused him to respond on Twitter or Truth Social, where Trump took the opportunity to call Turnbull “weak” and “ineffective”.
Not taking this lying down, Turnbull made his way to the ABC to respond.
“You see, Donald Trump is essentially a petulant, recalcitrant, orangutan,” Turnbull told 730’s Sarah Ferguson.
Ferguson went to interject.
“No, it’s quiet time for you now, Fake Pom. I’m talking. You see, I was able to trick that great ape into giving us an exemption last time. I think Albo and KRudd have done all they can. It’s in God’s hands now.”
The Prime Minister was said to have slumped back in his chair and swore as he watched the programme on Monday night, prompting the phonecall.
“G’day Malcolm,” said the Prime Minister to Malcolm the following morning.
“How are you? Yeah great. Yep. No worries. Hey, thanks for all your help but can you please shut your fucken head? Yep. OK. Great. No, no, don’t worry. No, I don’t need you to go on the ABC again. Doubt they’ll have you back [laughs] Yeah, no, we’re not going to defund them. Yeah, no. Well mate, that’s a pretty controversial opinion. Yep, no, I dare you to go on Sky News and say that. No, you’re thinking of the wrong one. Nah, he’s the one that, yeah, exactly.”
The Advocate reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office for comment, as well as the nice receptionist at Turnbull & Partners, but neither have responded as this goes to print.
More to come.
