Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King has rejected the suggestion the prime minister’s letter to UK counterpart Keir Starmer was an attempt to shift focus off the government’s handling of 34 IS brides and their children seeking a return home to Australia.

King was asked on the Today show this morning about the significance of Albanese’s letter that yesterday expressed Australia’s support to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession.

“The royal family is really suffering significantly as a result of Andrew’s actions, and we’ve signalled that early support if the UK chooses to do that, to provide that opportunity for the UK to take a decision. It requires all of the Commonwealth countries to agree. It requires legislation with the states and territories. So the Prime Minister’s given that early indication that really we want to draw a line under this,” King said.

Host Karl Stefanovic asked: “You’re not trying to move the topic on, are you, from the ISIS brides?”

“No, not at all. I think you know, we can, can walk and chew gum at the same time as a government, as we always do,” King responded.