Uproar as Anthony Albanese hands over $100 million in tax dollars to Vietnam

Australians are outraged after Anthony Albanese pledged $105 million to help Vietnam tackle climate change while urging the prime minister to take responsibility for his country’s cost of living crisis.

The deal was announced by the prime minister in Hanoi on Sunday, after a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.

Mr Albanese said Australia is keen to work with its neighbours, especially when it comes to the challenges of the clean energy transition.

Australia pledged $105 million for sustainable infrastructure planning, private investment in clean energy and technical assistance to the critical minerals sector.

While the talks in Indonesia aim to discuss the countries’ shared interests and advance future trade deals, many Australians complained that bigger domestic issues were at play.

One of them called on the prime minister to take responsibility for the cost-of-living crisis before “throwing taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars abroad.”

“With Australians currently struggling with the economy… women and children sleeping in cars, the elderly freezing and families going hungry and he giving millions away to another country to fight climate change, not good,” one wrote.

‘And we can’t afford to keep our heaters on in the frigid Melbourne winters! This is ridiculous!’ said a second.

A third shared: ‘I would now like to turn on the air conditioning and warm up my little place for the night, but now we can’t because my bills have increased over the last 4 cycles and I can’t estimate how much I will have to pay.’

“Imagine what he could offer the homeless with the same money,” said a fourth.

“We need help here in Australia,” said another.

Mr Albanese’s overseas trip marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam as the countries work towards a comprehensive strategic partnership.

He announced that Australia would step up its support for energy transformation in Vietnam.

Locals flocked to catch a glimpse of Mr Albanese as he enjoyed a beer at a bahn mi restaurant in Hanoi on Saturday night (pictured)

“With a major package of new overseas development aid of $105 million to support sustainable infrastructure planning,” he said.

“For encouraging private investment in clean energy infrastructure and providing technical assistance to develop Vietnam’s critical mineral sector.”

Mr Albanese said the trip was a milestone in marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam.

“I am very pleased to be here on my first official visit to Vietnam as Prime Minister of Australia to mark the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relationship,” he said.

‘We are strategic partners and we have been good friends for 50 years.’

Locals flocked to catch a glimpse of Mr Albanese as he enjoyed a beer at a bahn mi restaurant in Hanoi on Saturday night.

Back in Australia, Ben Fordham lashed out at the Prime Minister over the rising cost of living, urging him to take responsibility for household burdens.

Back in Australia, Ben Fordham lashed out at the Prime Minister over the rising cost of living and urged him to take responsibility for household burdens

Welcome to Albo’s cost of living crises. It’s not ours. It belongs to the Prime Minister,” Fordham said on his 2GB radio show on Wednesday.

“We’re being hit from every angle – mortgages, rent, food, gas, power, you name it, it’s costing us more, and I don’t think people will tolerate it for much longer.”

Fordham claimed many Australians have had a “gut” from the Reserve Bank after it raised interest rates again on Tuesday.

Interest rates are now at a ten-year high of 4.1 percent after 12 consecutive increases in 13 months.

“On an average million dollar loan, a borrower pays $2,200 more per month or $26,000 more per year. Where do people find the money?’ he asked.

Mr Albanese’s overseas trip marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam as the countries work towards a comprehensive strategic partnership

According to data from research firm Roy Morgan, 1.3 million Australian households are now under ‘mortgage stress’.

Fordham said the rate hikes affect not only mortgage holders, but also small business borrowers and tenants, who have landlords funneling the increases to them.

Electricity prices, set to rise again on July 1, and food prices are also “going through the roof,” the radio host said, adding that after more than a year in power, the government cannot escape its responsibility.

Fordham said Mr Albanese cannot ‘continue to dodge’ Australians being asked to ‘tighten their belts as the government goes away’.

“The prime minister can continue to deviate, this is Anthony Albanian cost of living crisis,” he said.