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Tony Abbott to hold some high-level finance talks in US, but not all Tony Abbott to hold some high-level finance talks in US, but not all
(2 months later)
The prime minister is scheduled to meet the chair of the Federal Reserve and the Treasury secretary during his trip to the US, but planned talks with the heads of the IMF and World Bank remain in doubt due to a busy schedule. The prime minister is scheduled to meet the chair of the Federal Reserve and the Treasury secretary during his trip to the US, but planned talks with the heads of the IMF and World Bank remain in doubt due to a busy schedule.
Tony Abbott’s program of meetings has not been finalised but News Corp Australia reported on Saturday that his office was considering cancelling meetings with the Treasury secretary, Jack Lew, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, and the World Bank president, Jim Yong Kim.Tony Abbott’s program of meetings has not been finalised but News Corp Australia reported on Saturday that his office was considering cancelling meetings with the Treasury secretary, Jack Lew, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, and the World Bank president, Jim Yong Kim.
Abbott’s office said on Sunday that he is still scheduled to meet Lew and also has a meeting with the chair of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen.Abbott’s office said on Sunday that he is still scheduled to meet Lew and also has a meeting with the chair of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen.
However, it said planned talks with Lagarde and Jim Yong Kim remain in doubt due to a busy schedule.However, it said planned talks with Lagarde and Jim Yong Kim remain in doubt due to a busy schedule.
“In the United States the prime minister has a very full program of formal talks with President Obama and other political, policy and business leaders focusing on how we can strengthen this extraordinarily important bilateral relationship,” a spokeswoman said.“In the United States the prime minister has a very full program of formal talks with President Obama and other political, policy and business leaders focusing on how we can strengthen this extraordinarily important bilateral relationship,” a spokeswoman said.
“The prime minister is also leading a business delegation to strengthen trade and business ties between our countries.”“The prime minister is also leading a business delegation to strengthen trade and business ties between our countries.”
Abbott met Lagarde when she visited Australia in February, and the treasurer, Joe Hockey, has meetings planned with the economic leaders in July, as well as at the G20 in Australia in November.Abbott met Lagarde when she visited Australia in February, and the treasurer, Joe Hockey, has meetings planned with the economic leaders in July, as well as at the G20 in Australia in November.
Labor used the reported cancellations to accuse Abbott of “embarrassing” Australia.Labor used the reported cancellations to accuse Abbott of “embarrassing” Australia.
The deputy opposition leader, Tanya Plibersek, said the prime minister had made a succession of missteps during his travels overseas, the latest in the US.The deputy opposition leader, Tanya Plibersek, said the prime minister had made a succession of missteps during his travels overseas, the latest in the US.
“Australians have to worry that he'll be embarrassing us on the world stage,” she told reporters in Sydney.“Australians have to worry that he'll be embarrassing us on the world stage,” she told reporters in Sydney.
Plibersek said the heads of the IMF, World Bank and US Treasury chief would be critical in G20 preparations.Plibersek said the heads of the IMF, World Bank and US Treasury chief would be critical in G20 preparations.
“This shows the prime minister doesn’t understand how important the G20 is. He’s not as engaged as he should be,” she said.“This shows the prime minister doesn’t understand how important the G20 is. He’s not as engaged as he should be,” she said.
Plibersek said that followed the embarrassing spectacle of Abbott “washing Australia's dirty laundry” by talking about domestic issues at the Davos conference.Plibersek said that followed the embarrassing spectacle of Abbott “washing Australia's dirty laundry” by talking about domestic issues at the Davos conference.
Six months down the track, the relationship with Indonesia was still not back to normal, she said.Six months down the track, the relationship with Indonesia was still not back to normal, she said.
Plibersek said it was extraordinary that Abbott was not meeting the top economic officials at a time when Australia was preparing to host world leaders at the November G20 summit.Plibersek said it was extraordinary that Abbott was not meeting the top economic officials at a time when Australia was preparing to host world leaders at the November G20 summit.
“The G20 is the most important international meeting that has ever been held on Australian soil,” she said.“The G20 is the most important international meeting that has ever been held on Australian soil,” she said.
Plibersek said the rest of the world was moving forward on climate-change action but Abbott was a “Nigel no-friends” on the world stage.Plibersek said the rest of the world was moving forward on climate-change action but Abbott was a “Nigel no-friends” on the world stage.