Prime Minister on potential return of Donald Trump, Higgins-Lehrmann decision and Australia’s DV ‘tragedy’

Anthony Albanese says Labor’s policies would deliver on new home build targets and he will consider any new proposals for housing affordability and supply “on its merits”. Watch the interview on DTTV.

Anthony Albanese says he is confident Australia’s relationship with the US goes beyond “individuals”, as the world waits to see if former president Donald Trump makes a return to the White House this year.

In a wide-ranging interview marking two years in office, the Prime Minister said the US elections were a “matter for the people in the US” when asked if his government was prepared for a potential second Trump presidency.

“I have a very good relationship with President (Joe) Biden and the relationship that we’ve built through AUKUS, but through the other work that we’ve done together as well, on climate change, on international engagement, through the Quad,” he said.

“The relationship between Australia and the US is a relationship between nations and between peoples, not just individuals.”

The Prime Minister said the Australia-US relationship is beyond “individuals” including Donald Trump. Picture: AFP

Closer to home, Mr Albanese’s government has been buffeted by a series of domestic crises, including soaring rates of violence against women and a dire shortage of housing, further fuelling cost-of-living pressures.

The PM said he believed Labor’s policies would deliver on new home build targets and that his government had got the balance right on issues like foreign investment by changing the tax system and regulations to raise more revenue for more housing.

Asked if he would consider following Canada in pausing foreign purchases of homes, Mr Albanese said his government would examine “any policy proposals that are put forward on their merits”.

Anthony Albanese said Australia’s DV scourge was an “unacceptable” tragedy. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

On domestic and family violence, Mr Albanese said the deaths of, on average, one Australian woman every four days so far this year was an “unacceptable” tragedy.

He said supporting victim-survivors was key, but equal attention must go towards stopping DV “at the source”.

“We need to encourage respectful relationships … that men take responsibility as well for having those discussions where they see bad behaviour, they call it out,” he said.

Seperately reflecting on the Brittany Higgins case, Mr Albanese said what happened to the former staffer was “reprehensible”.

Anthony Albanese said he was ‘sympathetic’ with Brittany Higgins. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Federal Court Justice Michael Lee this year ruled Ms Higgins was – on the civil balance of probabilities – raped by her colleague Bruce Lehrmann, but concluded there had been no political conspiracy to cover up the case. Mr Lehrmann has filed an appeal against the decision.

Asked if he supported the finding, Mr Albanese said: “I agree with whatever judges find … The important thing is that we have respect for those judicial processes.

“I feel very sympathetic with Brittany Higgins. She is someone who has been subjected to extraordinary trauma.”

Anthony Albanese said he couldn’t name his biggest regret from his time in office. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Albanese wouldn’t name his biggest regret from his time in office, but said he was extremely aware of the “enormous opportunity and incredible privilege” it was to be able to shape Australia.

One significant unexpected event was the NZYQ High Court ruling against indefinite detention in November last year, which prompted the release of 153 non-citizens convicted of crimes into the community.

The PM stood by his embattled Immigration Minister Andrew Giles and Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil for their handling of the situation.

“Each and every day both of those minister are focused on the safety of the Australian public, this wasn’t something of their making,” he said.

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