Australia praised for climate change stance as Prime Minister Scott Morrison prepares for Indo-Pacific talks

Australia has been praised by Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for “leading the way” in action on climate change.

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell praised Australia for a “pretty remarkable economic performance,” in a meeting with Scott Morrison in Washington, DC, on Thursday.

“He made particular note of the fact that Australia’s economy has grown … well above where we left off as we went into the pandemic,” the Prime Minister told reporters on Thursday.

“I was able to point out that Australia is a real stand out performer when it comes to our economic performance though the course of Covid … our economic interventions, he agreed, proved to be highly effective”.

Mr Powell also showed a “keen interest” in how Australia’s vaccination program was progressing.

In his third day in Washington, Mr Morrison also talked clean energy and regional security with “dear friend” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a mask-to-mask encounter at the historic Willard hotel, ahead of Friday’s Quad alliance leaders meeting of Japan, the US, India and Australia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (C) meets with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, and ranking member Sen. Jim Risch at the US Capitol. Picture: Getty Images

“We agreed to go forward with a low emission technology partnership, a partnership that will focus on hydrogen development [and] ultra low cost solar … to support their energy transition,” Mr Morrison said.

“One of the key points we make about addressing climate change is to ensure we get the technology transfer from developed to developing economies … so they can grow their economies, build their industries, and make the things the world needs.

“Unless we can get the technology transformation occurring in developing countries then I fear that the ambitions so many have for addressing climate change will be frustrated.

“Australia will certainly do our bit … meet the commitments we’ve made and ensure were working with our partner countries around the region to secure that transfer of technology.”

Australia has not made a final decision on a net zero emissions timeline before 2050, he said, but “we will be considering it further.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison walks with the Senate Sergeant at Arms Karen Gibson as he arrives to meet with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the U.S. Capitol. Picture: Getty

“I already said … it was Australia’s ambition to move toward achieving zero as soon as possible … We intend to be successful in … the new energy economy,” he said.

Mr Modi and Mr Morrison also discussed their defence partnership, critical minerals and trade opportunities, particularly “digital trade”.

The Indian leader also showed a “keen interest” in Australia’s decision to buy a nuclear-powered fleet of US submarines. That was “well received”.

Asked if he had any advice for Vice President Kamala Harris on border security, amid a surge of illegal migration over the Mexican border, Mr Morrison demurred.

“I would only give advice if it were solicited.

“I don’t come here seeking to provide advice to the United States about how they should deal with issues in their countries. I tend to respect my hosts and if they make polite inquiries I’d be only too happy to respond.”

Quad discussions on Friday will revolve around “the independence of the Indo-Pacific [and] peace and stability in the region” as well as clean energy and economic recovery from Covid-19.

Australia was praised earlier in the day by Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who met Mr Morrison on Wednesday, for “leading the way” in action on climate change.

Mr Morrison also defended Australia’s lockdown against criticism that it is too harsh, saying “over 30,000 lives have been saved through Covid … our economy [has ] come through Covid arguably better than almost any other developed country in the world.”

Australia was praised by Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who met Mr Morrison on Wednesday, for “leading the way” in action on climate change. Picture: AFP

“The scenes in Melbourne the last few days … there’s been some disgraceful scenes, particularly at the Shrine,” he said.

“It’s important we all respect each other and respect freedom of speech but equally for all the premiers all the chief ministers to ensure that we are each responsible for our actions.

“Where premiers take actions in their own states, where they impose restrictions, I’m quite certain they know they’re accountable for those actions.”

He pointed out the relatively low fatality rate from Covid in Australia.

In the US, “sadly as many people die from Covid in a day than we have see through the entire Covid pandemic.

“The fact that more than 30,000 lives have been saved in Australia compared to the experience of OECD countries that is a figure that is quite staggering here in the United States and is something that back home we shouldn’t take for granted,” he said.

“Australia has saved lives … like almost nowhere in the world.”

The PM’s Washington trip has been overshadowed by a diplomatic rift with France over Australia cancelling a $90 billion contract to buy French submarines in favour of a new AUKUS alliance with the US and the UK to buy American nuclear-powered subs.

The PM revealed on Thursday that he tried to make “direct contact” with French president Emmanuel Macron at 8.35pm the day before the joint AUKUS announcement last week.

“We had sought to have a call that night. We had been seeking that for some time. He did not take that call to seek for it to be arranged. So I directly messaged him Australia’s decision in a personal correspondence.”

France recalled its ambassadors to the US and Australia after the announcement last week and has rebuffed offers since of a phone call from Mr Morrison to mend fences. After US president Joe Biden phoned Macron, Paris announced its ambassador would return to Washington DC next week.

PM SNUBBED BY FRENCH IN FALLOUT FROM SUBS DEAL

Scott Morrison has no immediate plan to placate French President Emmanuel Macron – who remains furious with Australia over its submarine deal – saying only that he will phone him “when the time is right”.

France recalled its ambassadors to the US and Australia last week after Mr Morrison axed a $90 billion deal to buy their submarines and instead entered into a new alliance with the US and the UK to buy American nuclear-powered subs.

Scott Morrison at the press conference in New York. Picture: Supplied

After US president Joe Biden phoned Mr Macron on Wednesday to mend fences, Paris announced its ambassador would return to Washington DC next week.

But Mr Morrison told reporters in Washington Thursday morning AEST that he had scheduled no such call to Mr Macron: “The opportunity for that call is not yet. But we’ll be patient …

“We understand their disappointment … it was a difficult decision. It was a very difficult decision. And, of course, we had to weigh up what would be the obvious disappointment to France.

“But at the end of the day, as a government, we have to do what is right for Australia and serve Australia’s national security interests. And I will always choose Australia’s national security interests first …

“Australia decided not to proceed with a very significant defence contract. And, understandably, we know that France is disappointed about that.”

Government sources told News Corp that “offers of a discussion” have been made to Mr Macron through official channels but the approaches have so far been ignored by Paris.

Lines of communication remain open at senior levels of both governments, sources say.

Scott Morrison and Emmanuel Macron in June. Picture: Adam Taylor/PMO

Earlier, Mr Morrison said he had communicated the decision to Mr Macron directly before it was announced.

After a dinner of Wagyu beef and Penfolds shiraz with Mr Morrison, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson used “Franglais” – a bastardisation of French and English – to tell Macron to “prenez un grip” and “donnez-moi un break”.

“I just think it’s time for some of our dearest friends around the world to prenez un grip about this and donnez-moi un break … This is fundamentally a great step forward for global security,” he said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the US president “acknowledged that there could have been more consultation”.

The president “holds himself responsible” for the rift with France, and not his national security advisor Jake Sullivan, she said.

“It was a friendly call … focused on the path forward and returning to normal.”

Mr Biden and Mr Macron agreed that the situation “would have benefited from open consultations among allies on matters of strategic interest to France and our European partners,” the White House said in a readout of the call, which took place before a virtual meeting of global leaders on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Biden and Mr Macron will meet in Europe at the end of October to mend fences over the submarine deal.