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A loaded question from journalist Latika Bourke, asking Prime Minister Anthony Albanese if he felt like a 'fraud', has triggered a political storm - with left-wing critics rounding upon her co-hosting role on an ABC radio program.
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critics → see → program
Albanese fielded questions in New York on Sunday night ahead of the Atlantic Council Awards, where he will receive a Global Citizen Award on Wednesday recognising his leadership internationally, especially in the Pacific.
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he → field → Pacific
The Prime Minister was confronted by Bourke, The Nightly's journalist-at-large.
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Minister → confront → Bourke
She asked whether Albanese deserved his international accolade by referencing a recent Newspoll showing his popularity had fallen.
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popularity → ask → Newspoll
'Prime Minister, here in New York on Wednesday night, you will receive an award for being a global citizen,' she said.
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she → receive → award
'Don't you feel like a bit of a fraud accepting this award when at home you've screwed up the response to the worst massacre since Port Arthur, Labor is one point shy of where it was under Julia Gillard when you rolled her, and your net approval ratings are worse than Scott Morrison's?'
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ratings → feel → Morrison
Albanese paused and then replied with a single word.
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Albanese → pause → word
'No,' he said, and the press conference moved on.
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conference → say → ?
The exchange quickly ignited debate online, sparking both criticism and praise from across the political spectrum - with some critics taking aim at Bourke's occasional co-hosting role on ABC Radio National's Global Roaming program.
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critics → ignite → program
Latika Bourke (right) has been criticised by left-wing identities - and praised by figures on the right - following her question to Anthony Albanese at the UN
Economist and former adviser to Julia Gillard, Stephen Koukoulas, accused Bourke of disrespecting the office of Prime Minister.
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Bourke → criticise → Minister
'A disgusting lack of respect for the office of PM,' he wrote.
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he → write → PM
'I assume the ABC will sack her for this misdemeanour - it sacks other staff for much less than this.'
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it → assume → this
Former ABC Four Corners producer Peter Cronau also weighed in.
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Cronau → weigh → ?
'Sporting a Ukrainian military cap and an attitude to match, casual ABC journalist Latika Bourke, projecting in front of the world's media, turns a question to the PM into a stark accusation: "Don't you feel like a bit of a fraud".'
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you → sport → fraud
Simon Banks, chief executive of Labor-aligned lobbying firm Hawker Britton, questioned Bourke's motives.
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Banks → align → motives
'I see a certain 'journalist' attacked the PM for being awarded an independent international prize,' he said.
'An award that specifically acknowledged his leadership in rebuilding Australia's economic, defence and security ties with our Pacific family.
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that → see → family
Who is opposed to that?
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Who → oppose → that
A number of high profile Labor aligned figures defended Anthony Albanese (pictured)
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number → align → Albanese
Veteran commentator and author Mike Carlton argued the question was crafted for headlines.
'And what, exactly, was the point of the question?' he posted.
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he → argue → question
'What information did she hope to elicit?
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she → hope → information
Or was it just a show-off..?'
Former Australian Democrats senator turned Labor MP Cheryl Kernot was also critical of Bourke's question.
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Kernot → turn → question
'Respect is earned - and not like this,' she wrote.
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she → earn → this
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson meanwhile praised Bourke for challenging Albanese on the world stage.
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Hanson → praise → stage
'Anthony Albanese has jetted off to New York where he will be receiving an award for being a good 'Global Citizen',' Hanson said.
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Hanson → jet → award
'While he collects a trophy from elites on a world stage, Australians' lives are only getting worse.
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lives → collect → stage
Latika Bourke (pictured) also serves as a co-host for ABC's Global Roaming program
'
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Bourke → picture → program
The Daily Mail understands that One Nation is running Bourke's question to Albanese on social media as a paid advertisement.
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Nation → understand → advertisement
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor also backed Bourke's question, saying that he thought Albanese has 'been fraudulent to Australians,' referencing the government's budget changes on negative gearing and capital gains tax, which they promised not to touch at the 2025 election.
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they → back → election
'He's lied to the Australian people time and time again.
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He → lie → people
He's in denial about the state of the country right now,' Taylor said.
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Taylor → say → country
Liberal Senate Leader Michaelia Cash said the question was a 'very accurate character assessment,' in a video shared to social media.
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question → say → media
'The truth hurts Albo, but not nearly as much as the pain that you've inflicted upon Australians,' Cash said.
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Cash → hurt → Australians
Conservative commentator Prue MacSween also applauded Bourke's intervention.
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MacSween → applaud → intervention
'Excellent question. Disgraceful answer,' she wrote about Albanese.
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she → write → Albanese
Daily Mail approached the ABC and Bourke for comment.
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Mail → approach → comment
The Aporia
