Anthony Albanese’s ‘hot mic’ moment filmed in Pacific as he discusses policing

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused a New Zealand journalist of unethical conduct for recording a private conversation with a senior Biden administration official about a historic policing pact on the sidelines of a major Pacific forum in Tonga.

In his candid conversation with Biden’s Indo-Pacific guru Kurt Campbell, Albanese expressed his delight at securing support from Pacific Islands Forum states for the Pacific Policing Initiative and joked that the US would pay half of the $400 million Australia will spend on the pact.

The police project was widely seen as a blow to China’s efforts to entice Pacific nations to work with its own law enforcement agencies as it vies with the United States for influence in the strategically important region.

In comments that could raise eyebrows in Beijing and some Pacific capitals, Campbell said the Biden administration was planning something similar to the $400 million plan but backed away after discussions with Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd.

“We had a masterstroke today in getting the Pacific Police Initiative passed, it’s so important, it will make such a difference,” Albanese told U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell in Tonga on Wednesday.

“That’s great you did that,” Campbell responded in a hot-mic-style exchange filmed and uploaded to social media by Radio New Zealand journalist Lydia Lewis.

“I spoke to Kevin (Rudd) about it and we were going to do something, but he asked us not to do it, so we didn’t do it. We gave you the way, so take the way.”

Albanese replied: “We can cut the price in half if you want.”

Aware of what was happening, Pacific Minister Pat Conroy reprimanded Lewis for filming the meeting, which took place during a break in the formal proceedings of the leaders’ plenary.
Beijing regularly portrays Australia as a mere proxy for US interests in the region, accusing it of acting like America’s “deputy sheriff” and seeking to draw Pacific nations into a Cold War-style superpower conflict.