Morrison’s most successful mission accomplished

Scott Morrison will fly back to Australia after stealing the limelight in the US with an alliance deal that successfully overshadowed any criticism of his climate policies.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison knew he was heading into stormy weather when he touched down in New York at the beginning of this week.

It was the start of climate change NYC week as well as the UN General Assembly, where hundreds of elite diplomats staying in luxury hotels were positioning themselves for the UN Climate Change Conference summit (COP26) in Glasgow at the end of next month.

US President Joe Biden meets with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in New York.

Of the 15 questions asked by journalists at the Prime Minister’s doorstop on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), 13 were either on AUKUS or French diplomacy.

And, Morrison not only avoided any potential political pain and embarrassment over his position on climate change, but he was also endorsed for it by the Biden Administration.

And at a Congressional meeting where AUKUS was the chief topic for discussion: “Of course, climate change, thank you for your leadership in that regard,” Pelosi said to Morrison.

“Today was a great opportunity to talk about the other issues with many of our partners here in the Congress and the Senate; for them to pleasantly receive the news that the progress that Australia is making with a 20 per cent reduction in our emissions which, I was able to say, is above what has been achieved by the United States, Canada, New Zealand and a range of other countries,” Mr Morrison said.

Asked by the media whether he was disappointed that the diplomatic drama around AUKUS had distracted people from his messages around climate change, the Prime Minister said: “No, not at all”, confident that he had averted a week of climate shaming.

“What I’ve encountered here in Washington, as I did in New York, was excitement, support for this extraordinary new level of partnership that we’ve been able to bring together between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom,” he said.

He told Morrison that Australia was our “closest ally” and that the two countries would move in “lock step” on issues such as defending democracy, battling climate change and COVID-19.

Still, as diplomatic criticism of AUKUS grew through the week – from the French and Chinese to Malaysia, Germany and Indonesia – even former prime minister Paul Keating chimed in – the trilateral alliance nations started easing back on the language.

At a press conference a day before the Quad Summit on Friday (Saturday AEST), where he is set to announce new clean energy deals and further COVID-19 support, Morrison was still fielding plenty of questions on France’s anger and on AUKUS.