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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joked he left US Secret Service agents 'taking a few deep breaths' after abandoning his motorcade and walking to a Manhattan event, as heightened security and a suspicious package scare snarled traffic across New York.
Speaking at a Macquarie Bank event on Tuesday local time, Albanese opened by explaining his late arrival.
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Albanese → see → arrival
'I apologise for the fact that we were stuck in traffic for a long period of time and ended up jumping out,' he said.
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he → apologise → time
'I thank the Secret Service for the remarkable tolerance of Australians saying, 'We're going to get out of the car.
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We → thank → car
We're going to walk.''
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We → go → ?
'They seemed to deal with that okay, once they took in a few deep breaths.'
His remarks came as New York's security network was under intense strain during the United Nations General Assembly.
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network → seem → Assembly
Nearly 130 world leaders are attending the high-level event, with the US Secret Service, NYPD and other agencies coordinating one of the year's largest security operations.
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Service → attend → operations
Adding to the disruption, police responded to a suspicious package at East 43rd Street and Third Avenue, just blocks from the UN headquarters.
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police → add → headquarters
Albanese revealed his delegation got out of their cars and walked (pictured in 2025)
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delegation → reveal → 2025
The incident sparked building evacuations and road closures, with authorities shutting 42nd Street through 44th Street between Second and Lexington Avenues.
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authorities → spark → Avenues
The Macquarie Bank event where Albanese spoke was about 1.5 kilometres away.
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Albanese → speak → ?
The NYPD initially urged the public to steer clear of the area.
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NYPD → urge → area
Expect road closures and delays,' the department posted.
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department → expect → closures
Police later expanded the exclusion zone, stating: 'Due to a suspicious package, 42nd Street through 44th Street is closed between 2nd Avenue and Lexington Avenue.
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Street → expand → Avenue
It is understood officers were investigating an unattended suitcase.
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officers → understand → suitcase
Specialist units were deployed while nearby buildings were cleared and streets were cordoned off.
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streets → deploy → ?
The scare unfolded in Midtown as thousands of diplomats, security personnel and support staff moved through the city for the annual gathering of world leaders.
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thousands → unfold → leaders
Authorities later announced the package posed no threat.
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package → announce → threat
The NYPD bomb squad was called in after a 'suspicious package' was found in New York City
Anthony Albanese (pictured) is expected to address the United Nations Assembly this week
'
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Albanese → call → Assembly
The package has been cleared and deemed to not be suspicious.
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package → clear → ?
43rd Street between 3rd Avenue and Lexington Avenue remains closed,' the NYPD said.
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NYPD → remain → Avenue
No injuries were reported, and police have not released further details about the package.
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police → report → package
After the Macquarie Bank event, Albanese was scheduled to attend a function hosted by US President Donald Trump, capping another day of high-level diplomacy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
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Albanese → schedule → Assembly
The engagement came after Trump used his UN address to criticise efforts to regulate artificial intelligence, while the White House has also taken aim at the Australian Government's proposed digital duty of care laws.
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House → come → laws
Asked about Trump's speech, Albanese defended the government's approach to online regulation, saying he was 'proud' Australia was leading a broader international push to improve safety on digital platforms.
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Australia → ask → platforms
'And the fact that the European Union have now announced major reform as well, joining the more than 20 countries who've taken action,' he said.
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he → announce → action
Albanese is expected to raise Australia's priorities on emerging technologies and online safety when he addresses the UN General Assembly later this week.
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he → expect → Assembly
The Aporia
