Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss has defended his boss's international meeting schedule, saying it's not possible to meet everyone.
The opposition has criticised Prime Minister Tony Abbott as a "Nigel no-friends" and says it's extraordinary he appears not to be meeting top economic officials while in the United States.
Mr Truss said meeting schedules on overseas trips were usually fluid, with some appointments not finalised until the last minute.
"The prime minister has a very heavy schedule in several countries over a few days and he simply can't meet everyone in every town," he told ABC TV on Sunday.
"It's not as though there's been any neglect of the World Bank or the IMF."
Political columnist Laurie Oakes on Saturday reported that Mr Abbott had cancelled long-planned meetings with US treasury secretary Jack Lew, International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde and World Bank president Jim Yong Kim.
Mr Truss said the prime minister has locked in meetings with key US economic policy makers including Reserve Bank governor Janet Yellen and US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew.
However, Mr Abbott's office said planned talks with Ms Lagarde and Jim Yong Kim remain in doubt due to a busy schedule.
Mr Abbott met Ms Lagarde when she visited Australia in February.
Share
