Since Donald Trump’s reelection as US president, Australian leaders have spent appreciable airtime assuring voters there’s nothing to fret about. Headlines had been dominated this morning by Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ speech to the Australian Institute of Worldwide Affairs, claiming Australia is well-placed to deal with any potential financial penalties of the following Trump administration.
In fact Trump is a famously unpredictable chief, each relating to international coverage and the US economic system. And each of these clearly have an effect on nations like Australia as properly.
Listed below are the arguments Australia’s federal ministers have made for why there’s no purpose to be involved.
Anthony Albanese
The prime minister stated final Friday he regarded ahead to working with Trump “within the pursuits of each of our nations”, highlighting what he stated was the 2 nations’ “historical past of shared sacrifice, a dedication to frequent values, and above all, enduring respect and affection between our peoples”.
Albanese stated his workforce had obtained “appreciable briefings” concerning the potential affect of the election, together with throughout safety and financial points. Requested concerning the attainable affect of Trump’s promised tariffs, Albanese responded: “Australia is a supporter of commerce. We’re a buying and selling nation. And we’ll proceed to be advocates without spending a dime and honest commerce.”
Jim Chalmers
The treasurer will say in his speech that Australia’s versatile change charge and unbiased central financial institution will assist keep away from financial shocks.
“In fact we anticipate the incoming US administration to convey a special suite of insurance policies, and we’re assured in our skill to navigate that change, as companions,” Chalmers was getting ready to say, in accordance with Guardian Australia.
Penny Wong
The international minister has highlighted Australia’s “robust, long-standing and bipartisan alliance” with the US.
“We’re outdated allies and true mates. It’s an alliance grounded in historical past and pushed by shared democratic values,” she advised ABC radio final week.
Requested about what Trump’s reelection might imply for the AUKUS submarine pact, Wong stated there was bipartisan help for it, each within the US and in Australia.
“I’m more than happy that we’ve seen Republican help within the Congress each on the precept of AUKUS and likewise for laws that helps ship it. I’m more than happy that we’ve seen public statements in help of AUKUS by senior Republicans. That is bipartisan help in america in addition to in Australia and that could be a good factor for the nation,” she stated.
Richard Marles
The defence minister has been on private depart for just a few days, so he has not made any private statements because the US election outcomes grew to become recognized. However Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh, gave an interview this morning the place he echoed among the identical sentiments expressed by Chalmers.
“I believe we’ve seen the treasurer has already famous that there’ll be some financial bumps on the highway that can be affecting not simply Australia, however the globe,” he advised ABC Information Breakfast. “And they’re issues that we’re ready to have the ability to climate by issues like versatile rates of interest, by an unbiased reserve financial institution, by our foreign money change mechanisms, and the way in which during which we’ve been correctly managing the economic system, offering surplus budgets, ensuring that we’re greatest positioned to climate financial storms, no matter could also be their trigger.”
Requested concerning the potential affect on the AUKUS alliance, Keogh echoed what Wong had stated.
“One of many issues that we’ve seen over a while now has been the true bipartisan help for the AUKUS preparations in america … and we anticipate that to proceed even underneath a Trump presidency, as a result of we’ve seen that help from Trump supporters, from Trump Republicans already throughout the Congress for the AUKUS preparations,” he stated.
Defence Business Minister Pat Conroy additionally gave an interview this morning, the place he was requested concerning the the information ex-US secretary of state Mike Pompeo is not going to return within the position. Trump’s vow to not rent the AUKUS champion has been seen as a possible blow to the submarine alliance.
“I don’t consider [it will be a blow to AUKUS],” Conroy advised ABC Radio Nationwide. “Ministers of the Australian authorities have been partaking with Republican opinion leaders for a variety of years, simply as we have interaction with Democrat opinion leaders. And so, I’m assured that the robust bipartisan help in america for AUKUS will proceed.”
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