"Our society is better than the US"0:32
Paul Keating opened up on his thoughts on Australia moving away from the US under a Trump presidency. Courtesy: ABC/7:30
John Howard and Paul Keating explain how Trump presidency will impact Australia
FORMER Australian prime ministers John Howard and Paul Keating have given their thoughts on how Australia will fare under a Trump presidency during a rare interview on ABC’s 7.30.
In a shock upset that’s triggered a political earthquake, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was forced to concede after losing critical battleground states to Donald Trump, who claimed Ohio, North Carolina and Florida.
Mr Keating backed Trump saying “I like strong guys, yeah”.
But he also told host Leigh Sales the election of Mr Trump should herald Australia’s move away from the US as its key alliance.
“This whole question about our subordination to the United States in a sort of broad policy term. This society of ours is a better society than the United States,” he said.
“In foreign policy terms, we’re getting the message from President-elect Donald Trump that he’s a big power guy and he’s not for alliances.”
Mr Keating said Australia had got into a “crazy position” where the American alliance, instead of simply being a treaty, has taken on a “sacramental quality”.
He said Australia needed to make its way in Asia with an independent foreign policy.
“There’s a thing called the Australian-American dialogue, which I never attended, a cult thing that’s gone on for years,” he said.
“What we need to do is make our way in Asia ourselves with an independent foreign policy.”
He said Australia should consider an independent foreign policy that was concerned with Indonesia and South East Asia.
“I’ve suggested for instance, we should join ASIAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations,” Mr Keating said.
“In other words, we’d be more useful to the United States, by the way, if we were doing these things.
“Isn’t an independent, balanced foreign policy the right answer? Or do we stay in a crouch, saying Hail Marys to the alliance?”
"I don't believe the administration is going to walk away from old allies"0:33
John Howard believes the strength of the AUS-US treaty survives changes of personnel in Canberra and Washington. Courtesy: ABC/7:30
Mr Keating’s successor, John Howard — who previously said he “trembles” at the idea of President Trump — is now saying that the idea of him in the White House is “a little less radical and a little less scary” than predicted.
“Now he’s won ... We have to accept he’s been elected and wait and see what occurs,” Mr Howard said.
“I made comments then that I believed in. I don’t walk away from what I’ve said, but I’m not really relevant in a sense.”
He also disagreed with Keating that Australia should call time on the close relationship with the US.
Sales asked what he thinks the risks to Australia are with Trump soon to be in control.
Mr Howard said in the long run, he was confident the historical warmth of the relationship would continue.
“I don’t believe the administration, the new administration is going to walk away from old allies,” he told Sales.
“I think one of the things we can look forward to is more money being spent by America on defence, and that is likely to end up strengthening the involvement of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region.
“So those people who are talking about the need for some kind of radical recasting of our attitude towards the United States, forget the reality that this is a relationship so deeply embedded in history and sentiment, that it survives changes of personnel both in Canberra and Washington.”
Earlier today, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull today held his first talks with the President-elect, stressing the need not to abandon trade deals in the region.
Originally published as Howard and Keating clash over Trump