Albanese laments 'breakdown' of global rules in major UN speech
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Anthony Albanese's speech doubled as a pitch for a non-permanent Security Council seat. (AP: Frank Franklin II)
Anthony Albanese has lamented a "breakdown of international rules" in a UN speech naming climate change and AI as key global challenges, just two days after Donald Trump told the same forum that both concerns were a "hoax".
The prime minister's speech also doubled as a pitch for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, where Mr Albanese said Australia hoped to help safeguard international law.
"Clearly, the multilateral system we have all known and benefited from is under immense strain," he told the UN's annual general assembly summit.
"Australia supports the rules and institutions that underpin open trade and connectivity. That order, based on agreed rules and institutions, faces massive disruption."
AI and climate change were the key issues that demanded global cooperation, Mr Albanese said, despite the "breakdown of trust, civility and social cohesion" that was promoting conflict within and between countries.
He said climate change was already causing an increase in extreme weather and threatening the "very existence" of Australia's Pacific neighbours.
And he referenced yesterday's revelations that an AI agent had hacked Australian Medicare data when repeating his call for "action to shape artificial intelligence development rather than be passively shaped by it".
Many other leaders have made similar arguments about climate and AI from the UN rostrum this week. But both positions pit Australia against the US, which, under Mr Trump's leadership, has aggressively pushed back on calls for global action on either issue.
Mr Albanese delivered the speech in New York as Mr Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a state dinner at the White House.
During an earlier meeting, Mr Xi told Mr Trump that the superpower countries had a responsibility to "develop and manage AI for good".
But Mr Trump said while AI would be discussed during their three-day summit, he wanted to "leave it exactly where it is".
Australia has nominated for a seat on the Security Council in 2029-2030. Two non-permanent seats are available and Finland is the only other nominee.
If successful in its bid, Australia would use the position to "amplify the voices of small states and middle powers", Mr Albanese said.
"We understand the UN mission cannot be entrusted solely to the great powers or the biggest countries or even the loudest voices alone."
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