Topics: Albanese ill-disciplined; US elections; Australia-US relationship; Women’s rights;
01:15PM AEDT
5 November 2024
Anna Henderson: Firstly, there’s a video circulating today from 2017 of Anthony Albanese talking about Donald Trump. How damaging do you think that kind of language would be if Donald Trump was to become president?
Simon Birmingham: I think it shows remarkable ill-discipline back at the time by Anthony Albanese. Let’s remember, Donald Trump was already president at that time, and Anthony Albanese was aspiring to be a cabinet minister at the next election. And to think that he was that ill-disciplined in talking about the US administration and US president at the time, shows a degree of recklessness that he certainly should not have undertaken. But of course, he’s in a different role now. It’s a different time, and it’s important that we all aspire to have a situation where the US is as one of our most important alliances and partners in a situation where regardless of whether it’s a Labor or a Liberal administration in Australia, or a Republican or a Democratic one in the US, we are working as closely together as possible, and that all leaders need to be able to put aside past comments to focus on a shared future challenges.
Anna Henderson: If Donald Trump is to return to the Oval Office, do you think it would be wise for the Prime Minister to immediately fly to Washington. They haven’t met in person before. Does he need to try and rebuild a relationship? This is our closest ally.
Simon Birmingham: Anthony Albanese should be seeking to engage with the incoming president as quickly as possible. He’s got trips scheduled to the Americas already with upcoming APEC and G20 meetings in South America. They provide a perfect opportunity to reach out, to engage and to meet with the incoming president, whoever that may be.
Anna Henderson: There’s also the potential for significant changes in international trade to occur if Donald Trump does become president. How concerned are you about the relationship with China and what that would mean for Australia’s economy?
Simon Birmingham: We have vast equities in the relationship with the US at a bilateral level. And of course, significant consequences from the way in which the US engages and undertakes its leadership role right around the world. That’s why it’s important that our relationship is as strong as possible to ensure that bilaterally we protect things like AUKUS and Security Alliance, and equally are in as strong a position to influence things such as economic policy, where in the first Trump administration, the Coalition government, with Joe Hockey as ambassador, was able to get exemptions for Australia from some of the tariffs that Trump imposed. If there is to be a second Trump administration, then we want to make sure we’re in the strongest position to get similar treatment for Australia’s economy and industries, as well as to make sure that we can influence any administration around maintaining its engagement with the Indo-Pacific region at a security level, but also critically from an investment, trade and economic landscape too.
Anna Henderson: Okay, so then if Kevin Rudd is the ambassador at the forefront of those negotiations, does that give you a sense of comfort if Donald Trump is the president again?
Simon Birmingham: Our alliance is bigger than any one person or indeed any one political party, and we have to make sure that we put our best foot forward at every point of engagement in the Alliance. Now, Kevin Rudd has done a good job in a number of critical areas as Australia’s ambassador to Washington and in Australia’s interests. We wish him nothing but success. But whether he is able to work with a future administration is something that he will have to demonstrate, and that he and Anthony Albanese will need to be big enough to assess honestly and to make sure that they are putting Australia’s interests before any personal loyalties or interests.
Anna Henderson: There is a view among some in the diplomatic establishment here in Canberra that Kevin Rudd’s ambassadorship is not tenable if Donald Trump wins this election. Do you agree with that?
Simon Birmingham: We’re not rushing to prejudge. We want to ensure that everybody puts Australia’s national interests first and foremost, ahead of any personal loyalties, ahead of any personal interests. That it is all fundamentally about ensuring that Australia’s ambassador can kick goals in Washington, can get things done, can be heard, and Kevin Rudd needs to make sure that he is in that strongest possible position, regardless of who’s there. And if he can’t do that, then he and Anthony Albanese need to come to the logical conclusion around a replacement.
Anna Henderson: I think Kamala Harris has in some ways quite a similar agenda to the Labor Party in Australia. Do you think that a Peter Dutton prime minister could work well with President Harris, or do you think it would be a difficult relationship?
Simon Birmingham: We’ve demonstrated from an Australian perspective and especially a Coalition perspective, that we can and do work effectively with any and all administrations in the US. Ultimately, the ANZUS alliance was initially signed under the Menzies government. You saw the closeness of relations that existed, for example, between Harold Holt and President Johnson, political opposites in terms of the context that you put the question, but leaders who worked effectively across the divide and that’s continued through Labor and Liberal, Republican and Democrat, all the way through to Scott Morrison and Joe Biden sealing the AUKUS deal together when they were leaders. The most recent demonstration, and the most significant building on the ANZUS alliance and treaty, to build that out with AUKUS and ensuring that we continue to work together and strengthen those ties. So, I’m completely confident, given our history, our track record and the shared assessment of the challenges that we face in the security environment that we have, that we will be able to work very effectively as a Coalition government if elected in Australia with whoever is in government in the US.
Anna Henderson: And just finally, Senator, there has been, you know, a major election issue in the United States has been abortion and the conversation around reproductive rights. What’s the message to the Liberal Party and the National Party today about whether or not that will be an election campaign issue that your side of politics will take to the next Australian election?
Simon Birmingham: Well, I’m very clear that issues of women’s reproductive rights should not be an election issue in Australia. Our leadership in the Liberal Party has been crystal clear that we have no plans, no intentions, and nor should we have to make any changes to those rights. Those rights should be respected. It is important for men to say that as well as for women. And it’s important that we give that reassurance such that the election can be fought quite properly on the cost-of-living issues and real pressures that Australian households are facing, and where government has a real responsibility to ensure that Australians get the helping hand that they need, and a stronger economy and effective national security into the future.
Anna Henderson: So, what should voters make of the Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Barnaby Joyce, talking about wanting this to be a federal election issue? You’re saying something very different. What should voters make of that?
Simon Birmingham: Voters should listen to the reassurance and the messages that the Liberal Party leadership has given and that is clear from Peter Dutton right down.
Anna Henderson: Thanks very much for your time on an incredibly busy day.
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