Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has sympathised with the US president's last-minute decision to scrap his visit to Australia, saying they share the challenges of major health reform and difficult Senates.
Barack Obama was due to arrive in Canberra next week but has delayed the trip until June to rally support for his major health reform package.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters on Thursday they regretted the delay, but the passage of the health insurance reforms was of "paramount importance and the president is determined to see this battle through".
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Mr Rudd told the Seven Network on Friday that Mr Obama had phoned him to relay the news.
"We had a good conversation, but it's going to be good to see him later in the year," he said.
"He'd like to have a more relaxed visit than the 24-hour whip in, whip out that the last one had come down to."
Mr Rudd told the president he sympathised with his plight, having had his own issues with a problematic Senate and pushing through changes to healthcare.
"What he's trying to do is get this through the American congress - he's having a huge job."
Asked whether the June visit was locked in, Mr Rudd said: "I'm going to be happy any time the president chooses to visit ... I'm pretty relaxed about that.
"It'd be nice to have him, Michelle and the kids."
Mr Obama had been set to leave on Sunday for the US territory of Guam and to Indonesia and Australia. His 10-year health plan aims to extend coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans.
