Paul Keating has ‘diminished’ himself with scathing attack on Aukus submarine deal, Albanese says

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese says he has the ‘utmost respect’ for Paul Keating, pictured, but he disagrees with his view on the $368bn Aukus submarine deal. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Former prime minister Paul Keating has “diminished” himself with his scathing criticism of the Aukus submarine deal and the Labor government’s role in making it a reality, Anthony Albanese has said.

Keating gave a blistering assessment of the Aukus agreement and senior government figures, including Albanese himself, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, and the defence minister, Richard Marles, in a press club address on Wednesday, calling it the “worst deal in all history.”