Alliance ‘will always be strong no matter who is president’

Foreign Minister Marise Payne says Australia’s alliance with the US will remain in good shape whatever the outcome of the presidential election.

Minister for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Marise Payne. Picture: Sean Davey

Foreign Minister Marise Payne says Australia’s alliance with the US will remain in good shape whatever the outcome of the presidential election.

In comments before the cliffhanger count, Senator Payne said she was pleased voting had gone smoothly but would not speculate on the result. “No matter the outcome that is resolved by the people of the United States, Australia’s relationship will continue to be as deep and as broad as it has been for many years,” she said.

Scott Morrison was in his Sydney office last night watching the US count between meetings. His office said he would not comment on the outcome until it was clear.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said the Australia-US alliance was “between two peoples, not two leaders”.

“I think it’s important that Australians respect the outcome of the result,” Mr Albanese told Cairns radio. “But it’s also important that leaders in America respect the democratic processes as well, because that’s the basis of our alliance.”

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, speaking on the ABC, said Donald Trump was a “bully” and a “deliberately polarising” figure. But he added the Australia-US alliance was “very, very deep and extensive, and goes far beyond the personalities of a given prime minister or president”.

Mr Turnbull had a famously difficult phone call with Mr Trump in January 2017 over a deal to resettle asylum seekers from Manus Island and Nauru to the US. But he said he gave the President credit for sticking with the deal he had struck with Barack Obama.

He said he was also pleased to have been able to persuade Mr Trump not to impose tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium.