Scott Morrison’s state visit takes on flavour of campaign rally

The PM and Donald Trump celebrate the Australia-US economic relationship as they open Anthony Pratt’s plant.

Scott Morrison and Donald Trump have celebrated the economic relationship between Australia and the US as they opened Anthony Pratt’s paper plant in Ohio.

Speaking to an applauding crowd in Wapakoneta, the Prime Minister said: “We believe in jobs. We believe in the way that jobs transform lives, how jobs give people choices.

“We’re making jobs great again.”

Mr Morrison spoke against a background of US and Australian flags, in an atmosphere more reminiscent of a campaign rally than a factory opening.

Mr Trump praised “my friend” Anthony Pratt for investing billions in the US, and reiterated that Mr Morrison was “one of America’s greatest friends.”

“Australia is one of our most important allies and trading partners with more than $65. billion in trade between our nations last year and I believe we’re the largest investor in Australia by quite a bit,” he said.

“We invest a lot of money in Australia, it’s an incredible, incredible people to deal with. Unlike so many other nations, Australia upholds the principles of fair and reciprocal trade.

“For this reason, America is committed to further growing expanding and strengthening our trade and commerce relationships between the United States and Australia”.

Earlier, Mr Pratt paid tribute to Mr Trump’s success at raising employment rates, saying his factory, which would bring 9000 jobs to Ohio, was “a great example of the American-Australian alliance.”

Mr Pratt also lavished praise on Mr Morrison, describing him as the “Don Bradman of jobs creation.”

Ohio: "@anthonyjpratt2 is one of the most successful men in the world" - @realDonaldTrump touring Pratt Industries' newest factory. https://t.co/gGgZtxGkew #auspol #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/0jL8h7FLjH

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) September 22, 2019

Earlier, as the cavalcade carrying the Prime Minister arrived in Wapakoneta, the birth place of Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, local people lined the streets waving flags and signs supporting Donald Trump and thanking Australia.

Donald Trump, Scott Morrison, and Anthony Pratt tour Pratt Industries. Picture: AP.

Some, thinking the cavalcade was Mr Trump’s, saluted Mr Morrison and Australian ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey.

Mr Morrison and the US president agreed to include the opening of the $US500 million Anthony Pratt paper plant as part of the Australian leader’s visit and to honour a promise Mr Trump made years ago.

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The opening of the plant fits the political theme of mutual cooperation and investment between the United States and Australia as both leaders make the point that the US is Australia’s biggest direct investment partner.

On Sunday (Monday AEST) Mr Trump said he had previously told Mr Pratt, during a visit by Malcolm Turnbull that “if he does something really spectacular, I’ll go and cut the ribbon. And he did; he invested a billion dollars in Ohio.

“So that’s Pratt Industries. They’re great people. It’s a great company, headed by a very great businessman from Australia. So they’re bringing a billion dollars into Ohio, and I said I’d go and cut the ribbon, and here it is.

“We’re ready to cut a ribbon. It’s a great plant, “ Mr Trump said.

After a tour of the plant with Mr Morrison Mr Trump, surrounded by flags and people in “keep America great” regalia continued to promote the Australian cooperation as he swept up from Texas.

In Texas Mr Trump attended another trade and business event “Howdy Modi” with Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, where 50,000 Indian Americans rallied.

Mr Pratt has been investing to build a network of recycling facilities and manufacturing plants with what he calls a ‘hub and spoke’ strategy of building green fields mills and then surrounding them with box plants.

The plant directly employs 230 people, including 5 Australians, with a further 1500 jobs in construction and then more in dependent and flow-on jobs