Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has branded former US president Donald Trump as a risk to democracy, as federal MPs across the political spectrum react to his conviction over hush money.
Education Minister Jason Clare agreed with Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, saying the “relationship we have with the US is more important and bigger than any one leader or government”.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“The US is our closest ally and irrespective of who the president is or who the prime minister is or which party is in office, the ties that bind our two countries together are strong and everlasting,” Clare told Sunrise.
But Hanson-Young maintained Trump was a risk to democracy across the world.
“We have to start having some hard discussions and deep thought about what this means for our relationship,” she said.
“He’s a bad guy, he’s a felon, and he doesn’t believe in democracy.”
Greens leader Adam Bandt used social media to declare Trump as “unfit to be president” and wrote on X that it “would be a disaster for the USA, Australia [and] the world if he is elected again”.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated the importance of Australia’s relationship with the United States. He acknowledged the importance of Trump’s convictions, but said it was important he avoided commenting on court cases that didn’t involve Australians.
“We regard that as a matter for the United States and their system as we regard the election of the US president to be a matter for the people of the United States,” he said.
“The relationship between Australia and the United States is a relationship between nations, not just between individuals.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton suggested Trump might use the revelations to galvanise his political base.
“There’s obviously two tribes here ... the one tribe who detest him and hate him. And the other tribe love him and adore him, and for different reasons on both sides.
“And all it will do is reinforce the views on both of those camps, but obviously it will make for an even, you know ... more exciting election, I suppose, in November.”
Former prime minister Scott Morrison – who said Trump had been subjected to a “pile on” in the United States after he met him in New York a fortnight ago – has not yet reacted publicly.
On May 15, Morrison posted a photo of himself with Trump and wrote on X:
“Was pleased to meet with former President Donald Trump on Tuesday night at his private residence in NY. It was nice to catch up again, especially given the pile on he is currently dealing with in the US.”
With AAP