The NSW government had already made detailed plans to close roads in Sydney’s central business district, as well as altering city bus routes.
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Albanese’s optimism was shattered around 4.30am on Wednesday morning when his phone started buzzing. Phone calls at such a time rarely bring good news, and so it was here.
It had become clear to Biden he wasn’t nearly close enough to a breakthrough debt ceiling deal to stay out of the country for so long, meaning he would have to cut his travel plans short and cancel the Quad trip.
American media outlets had already published stories, based on briefings from senior officials, that Biden would travel to the G7 summit in Japan this week but not onwards to Papua New Guinea and Australia.
US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby all but made it official when he told reporters around 5am AEST that the White House was “reevaluating” the second part of Biden’s trip.
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi will still travel to Australia for his bilateral visit.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
By 6am Biden and Albanese had spoken, with the president conveying his regret that he would not be able to travel to Australia. According to Albanese, Biden made clear in the call that he was “very disappointed at some of the actions of some members of Congress and the US Senate”. That is to say, Republicans who were playing hardball in their negotiations about raising the debt ceiling.
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An official announcement was released 40 minutes later confirming that Biden’s trip was off, and Albanese quickly hopped onto breakfast radio to control the narrative. While he was disappointed, he said he understood Biden’s need to stay focussed to avoid dire economic consequences – not just for America, but countries like Australia too.
At this stage, it was unclear if the Quad summit could still take place. Perhaps Biden could send another official to represent him. But no, that wouldn’t do. By the time of Albanese’s 11am press conference at Tweed Heeds, the entire event had been kyboshed. No Opera House, no summit. At least Modi was still coming for his bilateral visit.
After months of meticulous planning, Australia’s most significant geopolitical gathering since the 2014 Brisbane G20 summit was over before it started. Sydney’s commuters should have no trouble getting to work on time next Wednesday.
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.