Even the best planned press conferences...
"Prime Minister Get out of here! You don't respect the region!"
... Can go awry.
A small group of Anti-wind farm activists at Lake Illawara.....fanning blow-back at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
"HECKLERS: "No offshore wind turbines Albo!
ALBANESE: "Nice dog mate."
... Whitlam a safe seat - in Labor's industrial heartland.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is there.
ALBANESE: "We supoort blue collar jobs. We support blue collar jobs.
HECKLER: Another lie."
The Illawara project is one of six offshore wind zones, proposed by the government.
Approved last year with a pared back footprint - turbines positioned more than 20 kilometres from the coast.
Alex O'Brien is with Responsible Future Illawara.
"Our group came down here because we heard the Prime Minister was going to be here, and the Labor Party have continued to blind the opportunity to speak to our community about the offshore wind farm. We've got grave concerns from an economic environmental aspect. We're concerned about local jobs in fishing and tourism, and that's why we're here today. And we've also got an inquiry into offshore wind at the moment, which is continuing to be held up by a labor greens controlled Senate. They've met five times, and the committee can't even lock in a date. We want accountability. We want transparency, and that was our message to the prime minister today."
The Energy Minister telling SBS News there has been extensive consultation - and local support.
The Prime Minister with a reminder for blue collar workers.
ALBANESE: "Turbines are made of steel by the way."
HECKLER: Not Illawara steel!
ALBANESE: "And we want them to be made with Illawara Steel and domestic manufacturing as well."
At the Bluescope smelters...a far warmer reception.
Australia's largest steel exporter is in Donald Trump's line of fire.
25 per cent tariffs are looming in march.
The PM is confident of an exemption - while avoiding today's retaliatory measures.
"We have zero tariffs of any US goods into Australia."
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton capitalising on this obstacle.
"I don't support these tariffs at all. I think they damage the relationship if they stay in place. Now, as the President's demonstrated, he's a deal maker, and I think the Prime Minister, frankly, should have been preparing the ground long before this decision was made. Other world leaders went to see the President after his inauguration. Our Prime Minister hasn't done that. There was a call, which had been scheduled the other day, and there had been, it seems limited engagement, even by the ambassador or the foreign minister with her counterparts or his counterparts."
Expect to see plenty more high vis in the coming months, the PM on Friday sidestepping speculation of an early election - even if some of the campaign theatrics have already begun.
"Oh, keep your eye on the white car!"
The message from Crossbenchers - who could hold hung parliament power - that their vote won't come at the drop of a hat.
Bob Katter is with Katter's Australian Party.
"I'm not going to give the gong the power in Australia unless I get assurances that my industries are not going to be closed down."
And this message from Independent MP Helen Hayes.
"I will tell you what i won't do. I will never sign a deal that that signs away my my vote on every piece of legislation. I would never do that. because, when you think about this disruptive power thing that we've been talking about the greatest, greatest capacity to negotiate and Improve legislation and get better outcomes for the people I represent, and I believe the whole nation is to be able to negotiate, right throughout the next parliament and not not to sign away, that that would be completely stupid, I reckon. I won't be doing."
All signs the next parliament may require comprehensive courting.
