According to Assistant Minister to the PM, Patrick Gorman, it’s “recognising that Australia should stand on our own two feet”.

Anthony Albanese will emphasize Australia’s sovereignty in response to uncertainties surrounding US trade tariffs and the nuclear submarine agreement.

The government is revisiting the strategies of the wartime prime minister, 80 years after his era, during which Britain’s failure prompted him to turn to America. Tonight, the Prime Minister intends to focus on national strength, paying tribute to John Curtin with a speech underscoring Australia’s resolve to be self-reliant. According to Professor James Curran from the University of Sydney, “Albanese is clearly signaling to Washington and the Trump administration that Australia is charting its own course.”

We have seen eight decades of an enduring US friendship and strategic partnership.

But several months after Donald Trump’s inauguration, Anthony Albanese is yet to book a face-to-face with the president.

“I don’t believe Mr Albanese has done all he can here to strengthen Australia’s position in relation to the United States,” Shadow Attorney-General Julian Leeser said.

Curtin and Chifley are two wartime Prime Ministers who re-wrote Australia’s foreign policy playbook.

Tonight, the Prime Minister will point out he too has forged new security ties in our region, rebuilt relationships with China and is now looking at a free trade deal with Europe.

“Here we are talking about the opportunity to run a more independent course from Washington,” Curran said.

“I’d say this will ruffle feathers of Uncle Sam.”