Australia's Trade Minister has been told to apologise for saying New Zealand is the nation's most trusted ally.
Don Farrell, one of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's most senior cabinet ministers, shocked MPs on the Opposition benches when he declared the US was not Australia's most trusted security partner – sparking demands for an apology to the global superpower.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the statement came in response to a question from Liberal senator Claire Chandler.
"I take issue with your first statement there. I’m not sure the United States is our most trusted ally … I would have said our closest international ally is New Zealand," Farrell said.
"We are very close to the United States. I freely admit that," he added after drawing guffaws from the opposition.
Australia's Trade Minister has been told to apologise for saying New Zealand is the nation's most trusted ally.
Don Farrell, one of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's most senior cabinet ministers, shocked MPs on the Opposition benches when he declared the US was not Australia's most trusted security partner – sparking demands for an apology to the global superpower.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the statement came in response to a question from Liberal senator Claire Chandler.
"I take issue with your first statement there. I’m not sure the United States is our most trusted ally … I would have said our closest international ally is New Zealand," Farrell said.
"We are very close to the United States. I freely admit that," he added after drawing guffaws from the opposition.
