Cameras have captured Anthony Albanese running fashionably late for the traditional leaders group photo taken on the last day of the annual Pacific Islands Forum.
As 18 other nation leaders waited in the hot Tongan sun on Thursday, there was one glaring absence and an empty red seat reserved for Australia’s Prime Minister.
As the other leaders looked around, wondering where he was and the reason for the delay, Mr Albanese suddenly emerged, racing over to join the group.
Despite the sole empty seat in the front row, Mr Albanese was unsure where he was supposed to be, with some viewers suggested he looked like ‘an embarrassing uncle’.
Someone finally pointed out his seat and Albo duly took his place.
At least he was wearing the right gear, a brightly coloured, short-sleeved shirt and a traditional Tongan kahoa leis to match the other leaders, as is the tradition.
The other Pacific leaders had looks on their faces ranging from amusement to bemusement as they waited for the Aussie to arrive.
But they were probably less amused at Mr Albanese’s ‘hot mic’ moment where he was caught on a live camera in a candid conversation with a high-ranking US official.
Pacific Island leaders are pictured on Thursday, waiting in the Tongan sun for late arrival Anthony Albanese
Mr Albanese was caught on camera arriving late for the traditional leaders photo taken on the last day of the annual Pacific Islands Forum gathering (pictured)
The footage and audio captured Mr Albanese and US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell discussing the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) under which Australia will bankroll the $400million plan.
When Mr Campbell said the US would step aside and let Australia run the policy, Mr Albanese joked that he would welcome American involvement if they ‘go halvies’ on the cost.
The PPI, to be rolled out over the next five years, was endorsed on Wednesday by leaders attending the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum.
It will involve multi-country police units, four training centres across the region and a Brisbane-based coordination hub, as Australia and the US seek to bolster their regulatory role in the Pacific to head off China’s strategic interest in the region.
‘Well, we had a cracker today getting the Pacific Policing Initiative,’ the Prime Minister was heard saying. ‘It’s so important. It will make such a difference.’
Mr Campbell praised the initiative, calling it ‘fantastic’ and ‘great’.
‘I talked with Kevin about it,’ he said, referring to Australia’s ambassador to the US, former prime minister Kevin Rudd.
‘So you know we were going to do something (but) he asked us not to, so we did not. We’ve given you the lane. So take the lane.’
‘You can go halvies on the cost if you like,’ Mr Albanese joked, with laugh and a pat on the back, prompting a chuckle from the US official.
‘It will only cost you… a bit,’ he added.
The video was recorded by Radio New Zealand journalist Lydia Lewis and posted on social media.
A relieved Anthony Albanese finally found his seat on the far left in the front row after he arrived late
At the end of the footage, Pacific Minister Pat Conroy chastised the journalist for filming the exchange, saying: ‘Oh, come on, Lydia.’
On Thursday morning, Mr Albanese accused Lewis of behaving unethically and filming him without his consent.
‘It was a private conversation, a jovial conversation and a friendly one,’ Mr Albanese said, describing Mr Campbell as a ‘mate of mine’.
‘The video is what it is. It’s up to whoever did that to think about their own ethics when it comes to journalism.’
He added that if he was a journalist he ‘would not do that’.
Regardless of the hot mic moment, Pacific leaders have hailed the PPI as a show of unity and shared responsibility, and it is a significant strategic win for Australia as it navigates China’s increasing assertiveness in the region.
Along with the other leaders, Mr Albanese (pictured) wore a brightly coloured shirt and a traditional Tongan kahoa leis
There was a mixed response on social media to Mr Albanese’s late arrival for the leaders photo on Thursday.
An Albanese parody account on X was quick to poke fun of the incident.
‘I rocked up late to the Pacific Island leaders’ photo. Got a laugh when I couldn’t find my seat,’ the footage was captioned.
‘Island Time I think is the way they normally put it.’
Some viewers didn’t think the incident was such a big deal.
‘Sounds like a memorable entrance,’ one joked.
But others were less impressed with Mr Albanese’s tardiness and the hot mic incident.
‘You know what they say, you don’t need a long neck to be a goose! Unfortunately you reflect on all of us,’ a commenter said.
Some thought Australia’s huge contribution to Pacific policing should have afforded the Prime Minister a better seat.
‘$400 million & they stick him down the end like an embarrassing uncle,’ a commenter wrote.
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