Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s gifts for US President Joe Biden

Scott Morrison gave the US President two thank you gifts before he jumped on a plane back home. Here’s what Joe Biden received.

US President Joe Biden received not one but two thank you gifts from Scott Morrison for hosting the first in-person Quad meeting with Australia, India and Japan at the White House on Friday.

A framed photograph of the Opera House at night, lit up with the US and Australian flags to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the ANZUS alliance, was the PM’s first token of appreciation. Framed in Australian blackwood, its estimated value was $563.

The second gift was more unusual, a handmade didgeridoo made from termite-hollowed scarlet gum, valued at $425.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison meets with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Picture: AFP

For Indian PM Narendra Modi, Mr Morrison brought along a traditional fawn-coloured Akubra hat, worth $215.

Japanese PM Suga Yoshihide received a more generous gift, perhaps because he is about to step down: a Tamar blackwood watch and cufflink box with a decorative Tasmanian blackwood lid, made in Maclean, NSW, worth $425.

Mr Morrison flew back to Australia on Sunday after a successful five-day visit to New York and Washington, shoring up alliances to counter China’s growing power in the Indo-Pacific, a week after announcing the new AUKUS defence pact with the UK and the US, including sharing technology for Australia to build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

Speaking ahead of his return, Mr Morrison described his fellow Quad leaders as “like-minded democracies”.

“Australia has a great reputation, particularly with our friends, and we have that reputation built on standing up for who we are and our values,” he said.

“We’ll always do that. And with countries that share a view on the world, whether it be Japan or India and of course the United States – the Quad countries.”

He said the Indo-Pacific was the part of the world “defining the future”.

“We need to ensure that we can keep Australians safe and secure in what is a rapidly changing part of the world,” he said.