Australian, US relations off to good start

SYDNEY: New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said yesterday he had spoken to President Donald Trump and been congratulated by the US leader, who got off to a famously rocky start with former premier Malcolm Turnbull.

Morrison emerged as the surprise winner of a party-room vote to replace Turnbull after a week of political chaos in Canberra that marked the emergence of Australia’s sixth prime minister in less than 10 years.

Morrison, the former treasurer under Turnbull, took over as leader of the Liberal Party, the senior partner in the conservative Liberal-national coalition. The coalition has consistently trailed the opposition Labor party in opinion polls in recent months and must call a new election by May 2019.

Relations between Trump and Turnbull started badly in February 2017 when Trump berated the Australian over a bilateral refugee agreement before abruptly ending their telephone conversation, according to a leaked transcript of the call. Trump described the deal, negotiated by Turnbull and former president Barack Obama, as “dumb”.

However, Trump got off to a smoother start with Morrison. “Congratulations to new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. There are no greater friends than the United States and Australia!” he wrote on Twitter.

Morrison in turn said on Twitter: “Had a great discussion with realdonaldtrump this morning. We affirmed the strength of the relationship between the US and Australia.” – Reuters