Labor accuses Coalition of ‘playing politics’ with national security after reports of Aukus snub

Opposition claims government is whipping up fear for election votes as WA premier Mark McGowan slams Peter Dutton's inflammatory' rhetoric

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Anthony Albanese has accused the government of playing politics" with national security after revelations it kept Labor in the dark about the Aukus agreement despite Washington's desire for bipartisan support.

The West Australian premier, Mark McGowan, has also criticised the Coalition for its rhetoric about a Chinese spy ship off the coast of WA last week, alleging that the defence minister, Peter Dutton, was the biggest threat to national security".