Australian Associated Press

theguardian.com, Sunday 8 June 2014

The prime minister has reportedly cancelled meetings with the world's top finance officials during his visit to the United States

The prime minister doesn’t understand how important the G20 is, says Tanya Plibersek. Photograph: Tim Clarke/AAP

Labor has slammed Tony Abbott, declaring him embarrassing for cancelling meetings with the world's top finance officials during his visit to the United States.

Deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek said the prime minister had made a succession of missteps during his travels overseas, the latest in the US.

"Australians have to worry that he'll be embarrassing us on the world stage," she told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.

Her comments follow a report from political columnist Laurie Oakes, who said Abbott had cancelled long-planned meetings with the US treasury secretary, Jack Lew, head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, and the president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, despite Australia hosting the G20 summit in November.

The prime minister's office has confirmed planned talks with Lagarde and Jim Yong Kim remain in doubt due to a busy schedule.

“The G20 is the most important meeting ever on Australian soil. The head of the IMF, World Bank and US treasury chief will be critically involved with preparations for the G20,” Plibersek said.

“This shows the prime minister doesn’t understand how important the G20 is. He’s not as engaged as he should be. The G20 is the most important international meeting that has ever been held on Australian soil.”

But the deputy prime minister Warren Truss, defended Abbott's international meeting schedule, saying it was not possible to meet everyone.

Truss said meeting schedules on overseas trips were usually fluid, and some appointments were not finalised until the last minute.

"The prime minister has a very heavy schedule in several countries over a few days and he simply can't meet everyone in every town," he told ABC TV on Sunday.

"It's not as though there's been any neglect of the World Bank or the IMF."

Truss said the prime minister had locked in meetings with key US economic policy makers including the Reserve Bank governor, Janet Yellen, and the US Treasury secretary, Jack Lew.

Abbott met Lagarde when she visited Australia in February.

Tony Abbott 'embarrassing' Australia, says Tanya Plibersek | World news | theguardian.com