G20 declaration rebuking Trump ‘a good thing’, PM says

Anthony Albanese says a declaration rebuking Donald Trump is “a good thing”.

Anthony Albanese has wrapped up his G20 jaunt to South Africa by recommitting Australia to global climate action and open trade in a joint declaration broadly seen as rebuking Donald Trump.

The US President boycotted the annual gathering of leaders from the world’s top economies, repeating discredited claims that South Africa’s government persecutes the country’s white Afrikaner minority.

Mr Trump also took issue with South Africa’s push to help poorer nations with climate adaptation, clean energy transition and debt relief.

Despite the White House calling the G20 declaration “shameful”, Mr Albanese said on Sunday (AEDT) it was “a good thing” and “a very positive sign that the world wants to get on with co-operating”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signed a declaration broadly seen as rebuking US President Donald Trump. Picture: NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht Palmer

“It’s about what the world has committed to – the Paris Agreement and to action on climate change,” he told reporters ahead of his departure from Johannesburg.

“Of course, Australia signed up to the Paris Agreement, under Tony Abbott, and signed up to net zero under Scott Morrison, and with Angus Taylor as the energy minister.

“There is overwhelming support for action on climate change.

“People are very conscious of the fact that the increase in extreme weather events, the impact of climate change, is here right now.

“The impact on this continent here in Africa, the impact in the Pacific of course, is something that we’re very conscious of as well.”

Pressed on potential backlash from Washington, Mr Albanese said the declaration was “signed up by all of the countries who are participating here”, highlighting the US’ absence.

“And Australia, as a sovereign state, makes decisions based upon our own national interest,” he said.

“Australia has an interest in action on climate change, we have an interest in trade.

“We’re a trading nation – one in four of our jobs is dependent upon trade.

“So there’s nothing unusual about supporting free and fair trade.”

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who had a tense White House meeting with Mr Trump earlier this year, struck a defiant tone during his opening G20 remarks.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Picture: Prime Minister's Office

“We should not allow anything to diminish the value, the stature or the impact of the first African G20 Presidency,” Mr Ramaphosa said.

“This G20 Leaders’ Summit has a responsibility not to allow the integrity and the credibility of the G20 to be weakened.”

Themed “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability”, the summit was somewhat marred by demonstrations as groups tried to shine the global spotlight on the myriad of challenges facing South Africa.

Protests, some violent, broke out near the convention centre where the summit was held despite the South African government deploying some 3500 extra police officers to bolster security.

Anti-capitalists criticised the government for hosting the summit when nearly two-thirds of the country’s population is below the international poverty line and unemployment is north of 30 per cent.

Meanwhile, women’s rights campaigners were successful in getting action on soaring femicide rates, with the country’s National Disaster Management Centre declaring it a national disaster.

Climate activists and anti-migrant groups also showed up.

Originally published as G20 declaration rebuking Trump ‘a good thing’, PM says