Anthony Albanese laments 'breakdown' of global rules in major UN speech - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged global cooperation on the challenges posed by AI and climate change in a speech to the UN.
The calls run counter to the Trump administration's opposition to action on those concerns, which the US president dismisses as hoaxes.
Australia is pitching for a two-year seat on the UN Security Council, which Mr Albanese says would elevate the perspectives of smaller countries.
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.
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".
Anthony Albanese spoke about a range of issues, including Ukraine, Iran and Palestine. (Reuters: Eduardo Munoz)
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.
Earlier in the week, Mr Trump told the UN: "The very same people who said we'll all be dead in 12 years because of global warming … are the same people that are now saying that AI is going to kill us all, that robots are going to attack us, and that everything is going to be a total disaster."
Mr Albanese delivered his 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".
Mr Albanese also used the speech to reiterate Australia's call for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine, its support for a ceasefire in Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and its recognition of Palestinian statehood.
He briefly mentioned Australia's opposition to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. He said they were damaging the prospects for peace.
But he did not forcefully condemn Israel the way many other speakers did, including multiple European leaders, whom Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked in his own speech.
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."
