Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has bluntly rejected a question from Australian journalist Latika Bourke about whether he felt like a “fraud” accepting a Global Citizen Award in New York while facing a sharp decline in domestic political support.
During a press conference at the United Nations in New York on Monday, Bourke asked Albanese whether he felt uncomfortable accepting the award, pointing to criticism of the government’s response to the Bondi massacre and Labor’s latest polling figures.
“Don’t you feel like a bit of a fraud accepting this award when, at home, you screwed up the response to the worst massacre since Port Arthur?” Bourke asked.
She also referred to Labor’s primary vote falling to 27 per cent and Albanese’s net approval rating reaching a new low.
Albanese responded with a single word: “No.”
He then moved on to questions about Australia’s campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2029–30. The Prime Minister said he was looking forward to the awards ceremony on Wednesday, where Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is expected to introduce him.
The Atlantic Council announced earlier this month that Albanese is one of four recipients of its 2026 Global Citizen Awards. The organisation says the award recognises his role in deepening Australia’s alliances and partnerships and promoting security and stability across the Indo-Pacific. The awards dinner is scheduled for 23 September in New York during UN General Assembly week.
The exchange came as Labor’s primary vote fell to 27 per cent in the latest Newspoll, its lowest level since 2012, according to reports. Albanese’s net approval rating was reported at -27.
The Prime Minister is in New York leading Australia’s delegation to the UN General Assembly, where the government has formally launched its campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council for 2029 and 2030. The government says the campaign is intended to strengthen Australia’s influence on international issues affecting Australians, including security, climate, digital technology and global instability.
The exchange also drew a political response from One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.
Hanson said Albanese had “jetted off to New York” to receive an award while Australians were dealing with cost-of-living pressures, housing affordability and interest rates.
“While he collects a trophy from elites on a world stage, Australians’ lives are only getting worse,” Hanson said, arguing that the Prime Minister should instead be focused on domestic economic pressures.
Hanson also praised Bourke for confronting Albanese over the award, saying the journalist had challenged the Prime Minister over the contrast between his international role and domestic political difficulties.
Albanese’s response was notably brief, with the Prime Minister rejecting the premise of Bourke’s question before continuing with the press conference.
The Global Citizen Award ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday evening in New York.
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